[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]In Peshawar’s Central Jail, 16 inmates have tested positive for HIV during recent blood screenings, exacerbating concerns over the facility’s already dire conditions described as “overcrowded and outdated”. Superintendent Muhammad Waseem Khan disclosed that these individuals, identified as “drug addicts”, have been segregated from the general prison population. With approximately 3,400 inmates currently housed in the facility, efforts are underway to provide medical treatment and counseling to those diagnosed with HIV.
However, broader concerns persist regarding healthcare provision, overcrowding, and outdated bail laws within Pakistani prisons, as highlighted by various surveys conducted by organizations advocating for prisoner welfare and human rights. A report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) in March 2023 illuminated the healthcare crisis in Pakistan’s prisons, emphasizing the dire conditions faced by the 88,000-strong prison population.
Read more: IHC Directive Mandates Shifting Bushra Bibi From Bani Gala To Adiyala Jail
Overcrowding, exacerbated by outdated bail laws, has led to severe strains on healthcare resources, increasing inmates’ vulnerability to communicable diseases.
The HRW report, based on experiences documented across Islamabad, Sindh, and Punjab, underscored the vulnerability of women inmates due to societal attitudes, financial constraints, and family abandonment. Patricia Gossman, Associate Asia Director at HRW, emphasized the urgent need for systemic reforms within Pakistan’s prison system, urging provincial and federal authorities to align healthcare standards with international norms, such as the Nelson Mandela Rules.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
