By Muslim Mirror News,
Hyderabad, May 3: Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee while condemning the brutal attacks on prisoners in India and Pakistan jails has expressed deep concern that both the countries are not respecting the prisoners’ rights and not providing security to them and thus both the countries committed grave violation of human rights of prisoners in their respective jails.
“It is clear violation of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, where Article 5 of UDHR says that, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”,” said Lateef Mohammed Khan, General Secretary, CLMC.
“It is a matter of deep concern that both the countries have not taken any steps towards prison reforms. But still following the same colonial methods where the jail inmates are treated as animals. The same condition is prevailing in Indian and Pakistani prisons.”
“Pakistan prisoners are known for their harsh conditions, poor food and hygiene and ill treatment of prisoners. Prisons are not salubrious places. Jails are overcrowded and abuse is common. Indian prisons are seriously overcrowded, prisoners are given better or worse treatment according to the nature of their crime and class status, sanitary conditions are poor and punishments are misbehavior while incarcerated have been known to be particularly onerous. India retains a system set up during the colonial period that mandates different treatment for different categories of prisoners,” he added.
“The recent attacks and counter attacks in Indian and Pakistani jails raise serious questions on safety and security of prisoners and their life is under threat. It is high time for both the governments to take immediate measures to protect their lives,” Mr. Khan said.
Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee strongly condemned the brutal attack on Sarabjit Singh in Pakistani Jail due to which he lost his life. CLMC also condemned attack on Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Khan in Indian jail where his condition is stated to be critical.
CLMC has demanded both the governments “not to play with the human lives for the sake of their political gains and respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and bring immediate reforms in the prisons.” The group also demanded both the governments to provide the security to the prisoners and take a step forward to send them back to their respective countries.