Chairperson (SHRC) Visits Shaheed Benazirabad District Jail

• January 10, 2025

𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐂 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐥.

The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), under the leadership of Chairperson Iqbal Ahmed Detho, conducted an oversight visit to the District Jail in Shaheed Benazirabad. Accompanied by the Jail Oversight Committee and district administration officials, the visit focused on assessing the condition of the facility, safeguarding the rights of inmates, and recommending actionable improvements.  

During the inspection, Chairperson Detho commended the Jail Superintendent for maintaining cleanliness and highlighted the importance of legal resources provided by the Sindh Government for the benefit of prisoners. Emphasizing access to legal aid /Justice as a fundamental right, the Chairperson recommended:  
- Establishing a dedicated legal aid and registration window for prisoners.  
- Activating the District Legal Empowerment Committee to assist inmates not covered under the Committee of Welfare of Prisoners (CWP).  
- Addressing delays in police submissions of challans through the District Criminal Justice Coordination Committee asking the Senior Superintendent of Police and SP Investigation as Secretary.  
Overcrowding was identified as a critical issue, prompting recommendations for temporary measures to reduce inmate numbers and mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks. Additionally, medical care was prioritized, with plans for organizing medical camps, routine check-ups, and referrals to People's Medical University for treating conditions such as scabies and skin diseases. Immediate referrals for orthopedic and cardiology cases to tertiary care centers were also suggested.  

Chairperson Detho reiterated the SHRC’s commitment to conducting regular jail inspections and ensuring that the rights of prisoners are protected as per the law.