PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan on Tuesday visited Peshawar Central Prison and appreciated the use of modern technology including virtual appearance of prisoners before courts through video link facility.

The PHC chief justice was accompanied by the provincial law minister, retired Justice Irshad Qaiser, the district and sessions judge, Ashfaq Taj, the inspector general of prisons, Usman Mehsud, and relevant judicial officers.

During his visit, cases of 115 prisoners, allegedly involved in petty nature offences, were disposed of by the judicial officers.

The PHC chief justice directed the provincial government to make arrangements for deporting to their countries scores of people imprisoned under section 14 of Foreigners Act. These prisoners have been in the jail despite completion of their term.

115 cases of petty nature disposed of during his visit

PHC Chief Justice Ibrahim Khan first visited the women barrack and inquired from the prisoners about their problems. He issued directives to the prison authorities for resolving their problems.

He lauded the availability of video link facility in the barrack for the women prisoners. This facility has made possible appearance of prisoners virtually before the relevant courts.

He appreciated the use of modern technology for hearing and disposing of cases of prisoners.

The PHC chief justice also interacted with presiding officers of different courts through video link facility and sought their suggestions for improving the system.

Justice Ibrahim Khan also visited the new ward in the prison’s hospital and enquired after the health of prisoners admitted there.

He visited the factory inside the prison where different skills have been imparted to inmates. He also visited the classes of vocational training and arts.

The PHC chief justice went through the juveniles’ barrack and issued orders to the prison staff for provision of maximum facilities to the inmates there.

Addressing the staff of prison, judiciary and other departments, he said that every officer should start accountability process from himself and afterward mend the ways of subordinate staff.

The PHC chief justice expressed concerns over use of narcotics and cellular phones inside the prison and asked the IG prison and jail superintendent Waseem Khan to actively address the issues. He assured them that for improving the system, his support would always be available to them.

He said that he was appointed as additional district and sessions judge in 1993 and reached the post of PHC chief justice within 31 years, but during that period he had not delivered a single judgment under any duress.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2023