National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): The High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has
disclosed that there are 144 prisoners including seven women lodged in
Baramulla Jail.
According to a statement of Bar spokesman issued in Held Srinagar,
“There are 101 under-trial prisoners including seven women presently lodged in the jail,” KMS reported.
The statement quoting a report prepared by its six-member team that
recently visited the Baramulla District Jail said, “Interacting with the
detainees and under-trial prisoners, it was found that under-trials whose cases are pending in the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Sopore, are not being produced before the court regularly.”
The statement added, the jail authorities excuse that the
SSP Baramulla has not provided escort for taking them to the court, as a
result of which their cases are making no progress.
The team had visited the jail on March 21 to ascertain why the under-
trials had gone on hunger strike.
The team comprised HCBA President Mian Abdul Qayoom, Anwar-ul-Islam
Shaheen, Hamid Shafi Hakeem, Muhammad Shafi Reshi, Soorat Shakeel and Muhammad Irfan.
HCBA spokesman quoted the report as saying, “It was also stated by all
the prisoners that there is no doctor available in the jail. Even a Medical
Assistant or a nursing orderly is not being provided by the jail authorities.”