March 29 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has pointed out that Pakistan has deprived its prisoners of adequate health care, leaving thousands at risk of contracting diseases and even death.
In addition, he has denounced that Pakistan’s “outdated and discriminatory” bail laws have led to prisons overcrowded with convicts, many of whom have yet to be tried or sentenced, according to a HRW statement.
“Pakistan’s prison system is in dire need of systematic reform,” said Patricia Gossman, HRW’s associate director for Asia.
Pakistan has a prison population of over 88,000, and its prisons are overcrowded; The rooms, designed for three people, can accommodate up to fifteen, which has led to serious sanitary deficiencies.
Women are in the highest risk group due to the prejudice, discrimination and abuse they may suffer.
Prisoners with disabilities are also not far behind, as they are often mistreated and are victims of abuse and discrimination; most of these disabilities are mental, and Pakistani prisons do not provide mental health care.
Both corruption and the “poor” infrastructures have left the prison health system undersupplied, and they do not have enough material and medical equipment.
While the wealthiest and most influential inmates may serve time in private hospitals, the poorest will only be able to pay bribes to obtain pain-relieving medicine.
Humans Rights Wacth has called on the Pakistani authorities to reform the bail system, speed up court processes and prioritize non-custodial cases to reduce prison overcrowding.
According to the organization, Sindh province is the only province in the country that has enacted prison regulations in line with international law, although they are not applied correctly.
