ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday urged for effective measures to improve the condition of women and children in the prisons and noted with appreciation the practical steps taken by the federal ombudsman in this regard.
He said this while addressing an event to provide help for vulnerable children and women in jails at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The event was organised by the federal ombudsman, which was attended by Federal Ombudsman Salman Faruqui and former chief justice of Sindh High Court (SHC), Nasir Aslam Zahid. The provincial inspector generals (IGs) of prisons also attended the gathering.
The president appreciated that federal ombudsman on the directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) had compiled a comprehensive report to improve the plight of women and children in jails. He hoped its implementation would produce positive results by improving the condition of prisons.
He said the children in jails could be made an active member of the society by imparting them moral and religious education adding that the women prisoners could also play a positive role in the development of society if they are imparted education and necessary skills. He said that no government alone could undertake welfare work and welcomed the participation of private institutions and philanthropists for improving the condition of women and child prisoners.
He appreciated that the federal ombudsman had constituted a committee co-headed by Asma Jahangir and Mian Muhammad Hanif to formulate a comprehensive strategy to help improve the troubles of women and children in prisons. President Mamnoon also praised the business community, philanthropists and institutions, including chambers of commerce and universities, in coming forward on the call of federal ombudsman and making their contributions for the betterment of women and child prisoners. The president called for close cooperation between the government and private institutions on public welfare initiatives to effectively address the issues of public concern.
