PHC seeks jail authorities’ reply on self-cooking ban

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has sought a response from jail authorities regarding the withdrawal of self-cooking facilities for under-trial prisoners in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

A bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Shakeel Ahmad heard a writ petition filed by two under-trial prisoners, Wasiullah and Tufail, who are detained in the central prison in Peshawar. They moved the PHC against a circular issued by the authorities, which mandates the removal of electricity boards from barracks to curb the use of mobile phones.

Advocate Nouman Muhib Kakakhel, while representing the petitioners, argued that according to the KP Prison Rules 2018, under-trial prisoners are allowed to cook their own food, and electricity is the only means available to them for this purpose as there are no alternative measures for self-cooking.

The counsel further contended that while no signal jammers were installed in the barracks to curb mobile phone use, the prison authorities have passed a circular to remove electricity boards, even though the Peshawar Central Prison has signal jammers in place. The decision will adversely affect the self-cooking facilities of thousands of under-trial prisoners, he added.

The counsel emphasised that while the freedom of movement of prisoners may be curtailed, their fundamental and legal rights remain intact even inside the prison.He pointed out that there are no alternative measures for cooking food for prisoners, and the existing arrangements are unhygienic and do not meet the required standard.After hearing the arguments of the petitioners’ counsel, the bench directed the superintendent of the jail to respond to the petition and file comments on the matter.