Shireen Mazari wants separate cells for transgender prisoners

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari called for separate cells for transgender inmates in prisons across the country, reported the APP on Friday.

The federal minister was chairing a meeting held to finalise a report on jail reforms being undertaken by the government. The report will be submitted to a commission formed by the Islamabad High Court.

The commission was formed on the writ petition filed by Khadim Hussain, currently a prisoner at the Central Jail Adyala, Rawalpindi, before the Islamabad High Court after his vision was impaired during the course of his sentence due to failure and negligence of prison authorities.

After hearing the plight of the prisoner, the high court constituted a commission to be chaired by the Minister of Human Rights to look into the following areas; to investigate human rights violations in the prisons and lack of medical assistance and obstacles in access to a court of law of prisoners who do not have means or assistance in this regard.

To investigate failure on part of the executive authorities and respective Governments to fulfill obligations and enforce the Prison Rules and the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 relating to prisoners who suffer from illness and diseases