KOHAT: The Peshawar High Court judgeson Monday expressed concern about overcrowding during a visit to the Kohat jail, and directed the administration to complete the prison’s extension as early as possible.

Justice Roohul Amin, who is the administrative head for jails, and Justice Laal Jan Khattak also said the prisoners were living in inhuman conditions. They directed the jail superintendent to provide better living conditions and food to the prisoners.

When contacted, assistant jail superintendent Akhtar Shah said 75 per cent of the jail building had long been under the army’s control for keeping terrorists there.

He said 200 prisoners from Hangu were also being kept in the Kohat prison due to absence of a jail there. He said currently the jail was housing 367 more prisoners than its capacity. He said work on construction of the women, juvenile sections and hospital would complete soon.

Mr Shah said there had been a ban on relatives bringing food due to Covid-19 pandemic.

OPEN KUTCHERI: Addressing an open Kutcheri in Bilitang on Monday, DSP Saddar Haider Ali appealed to the political leaders to help strengthen community policing in weeding out menaces of drug peddling, land grabbing and gambling from society.

The elders demanded increased patrolling in the area to curb crimes, including firing in the air.

The police officer assured the people of using all available resources to provide maximum relief to the citizens.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2020