SHRC team Visits Children & Women’s Jail, Karachi.
Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Detho, along with the Sindh Human Rights Commission team, visited the Youthful Offenders Industrial School (YOIS-Juvenile Jail) & Women’s Jail Karachi, to assess the condition of facilities and ensure that the rights of inmates are being respected under existing laws.
Currently, the facility houses 194 women inmates, including 5 foreign nationals. The inspection was conducted in the presence of Superintendent Ms. Humaira Qayoom, Mr. Altaf Khoso, CEO of Pakistan Legal United Society (PLUS), and representatives from Paramount Publishing House.
Key Highlights from the Visit:
Legal Aid for the Vulnerable:
Mr. Detho emphasized the urgent need to provide legal aid to under-trial prisoners who cannot afford legal representation. He also assured foreign inmates that SHRC will engage with the Home Department to facilitate their cases and, where possible, assist in their repatriation.
SHRC extended an invitation to jail staff to participate in upcoming capacity-building trainings at Saeedabad Police Training Centre and Sindh Judicial Academy—focusing on rights-based, trauma-informed handling of women in custody.
Facility and Infrastructure Needs:
While the remand section was found to be generally in acceptable condition, SHRC observed that children & the women’s jail requires infrastructural improvements, including upgrades in ventilation, sanitation, sleeping arrangements, and recreational facilities.
In a gesture of compassion ahead of Eid, Mr. Detho distributed new clothes and books among the inmates, bringing moments of hope and happiness to women who are often forgotten in the justice system.
