Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi on Thursday said provincial governments bear the constitutional responsibility of improving prison conditions, stressing that the protection of prisoners’ rights is a fundamental pillar of the country’s justice system.
Addressing the National Conference on Prison Reforms at the Supreme Court in Islamabad, Justice Afridi said the criminal justice system must place the rights and welfare of inmates at the forefront. He emphasized the need to ensure that prisoners have access to essential healthcare services and clean drinking water while in custody.
The chief justice said meaningful reforms in the justice sector would not be achieved solely through judicial verdicts but through their effective enforcement. He added that although considerable progress had been made in reducing the backlog of pending cases, sustained implementation remained critical to strengthening the justice system.
Justice Afridi also said efforts were underway to reinforce accountability across the justice system, noting that an efficient and transparent criminal justice framework is indispensable for the stability and functioning of any society.
The conference was attended by the chief ministers of all four provinces, the chief justices of the Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Balochistan and Sindh high courts, the Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court, along with senior officials from the police and prison departments.