Provinces pledge coordinated prison reforms under Islamabad Declaration

ISLAMABAD: Chief ministers from all four provinces on Wednesday pledged comprehensive prison reforms, stressing that protecting inmates’ rights, improving prison conditions and prioritising rehabilitation were essential to building a more transparent, humane and effective criminal justice system.

The commitment was outlined in the Islamabad Declaration on Prison Reform, issued at the National Conference on Prison Reforms held at the Supreme Court of Pakistan Auditorium, where provincial leaders agreed to work together to modernise prison administration and strengthen the country’s criminal justice framework.

Speaking at the conference, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the provincial government remained committed to protecting prisoners’ rights and implementing meaningful reforms. He said improving prison facilities and healthcare for inmates was a priority, adding that rehabilitation programmes should equip prisoners with skills to become productive citizens after their release.

Afridi also said the provincial government was taking measures to ensure lasting peace in the province.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said safeguarding prisoners’ rights was an integral part of the justice system and that reforms would make prison administration more transparent and effective.

He said the state was responsible for protecting inmates’ fundamental human rights, adding that education, vocational training and psychological rehabilitation were vital to helping prisoners successfully reintegrate into society.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her commitment to the rule of law, saying no one was above the law and every citizen deserved transparent and effective justice.

She said Punjab had introduced several prison reforms, including video-link facilities, audio and video calling services for inmates, and emergency panic buttons to improve prison safety and welfare.

Maryam said she did not wish to discuss politics at the forum, emphasising that the focus should remain on improving prison conditions and safeguarding the dignity of inmates.

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Recalling her own experience in prison, she said she understood the psychological effects of solitary confinement and the helplessness often experienced by prisoners.

She also shared that she had been imprisoned in the same jail as her father and was unable to see her mother before her death, saying those experiences had shaped her approach to prison reforms.

She stressed that mental health support, counselling and rehabilitation programmes were essential, adding that every prisoner had a unique story and deserved an opportunity to rebuild their life.

According to the Islamabad Declaration, Pakistan’s prisons continue to face major challenges, including overcrowding, a large number of undertrial prisoners, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to healthcare, mental health services and rehabilitation programmes.

The declaration reaffirmed that all persons deprived of liberty retain their constitutional rights, including dignity, fair trial and humane treatment, while also recognising Pakistan’s obligations under international human rights standards.

It emphasised the need for coordinated action among the executive, judiciary and legislature, while noting that provincial governments hold primary responsibility for prison administration and reform.

Under the declaration, the chief ministers agreed to reduce unnecessary incarceration through improved bail mechanisms, legal aid and non-custodial alternatives, enhance prison infrastructure and healthcare, and expand education, vocational training and psychosocial rehabilitation programmes.

They also pledged to strengthen coordination across the criminal justice system, establish provincial implementation mechanisms with time-bound reform plans, and ensure regular monitoring and reporting to improve prison conditions and rehabilitation outcomes.