Karachi: Provincial Ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh on Prisons Aijaz Jakhrani and Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh on Media Affairs Fahad Haroon have said that rumors are being spread on social media against the prisons of Sindh province and added that a picture of jailed Afghan children has been made. They categorically denied threatening the city of it and added that the viral picture did not belong to any jail of Sindh. They added that it was said on social media that this is a picture of Landhi Jail. When they checked, it was found that it was not a picture of Landhi Jail. Then it was said that the picture is of the women’s jail, but when checked in women, it is found that this picture is not even of the women’s jail. They expressed these views while holding a joint press conference at the Sindh Archives Complex on Friday. Secretary Food Department Raja Khurram Shahzad Umar and DIG Prisons Sheeba Shah were also present on this occasion.
Provincial Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon strongly denied it and said that this photo is not of any jail in Sindh. He said that 129 under-trial Afghan women and 178 children are in jail in Sindh. He said that these children are not arrested. They live with their mother in jail. He added according to prison rules, female prisoners are allowed to keep children up to 7 years old with them. He said that when the children’s parents are in jail and there is no one to take care of them, according to the law women can keep the children with them.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that illegal immigrants are not allowed to live in any country; illegal immigrants are arrested according to the constitution and law which is the international practice law all over the world. He said that these illegal immigrants have been arrested and produced in the courts, now they are in jail on court order. He added that no one can be jailed without court’s orders.
The Provincial Information Minister said that this should not be taken in the context of their Afghan nationality, women from Nigeria, Bangladesh and other countries are also imprisoned in Sindh. The law applies to all illegal immigrants equally, he said, adding that the courts have sentenced 54 women to two-month sentences and their sentences will be completed in the first week of January, after completion of their sentences these women will be deported with the help of the federal government.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Sindh government’s stance on illegal immigrants is clear; action is being taken against them under the laws of the country. Illegal immigrants are not allowed to buy and sell properties in any country. He said that if illegal immigrants are involved in crimes, action will be taken against them on merit according to the law; it will not be judged on the basis of their nationality but crime history.
On this occasion, videos and photos of children’s jail were also shown to the media. Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the best environment is being provided to the children in the jail. They are provided with the best food, education and health facilities. He invited the media representatives to visit the Juvenile Jail along with the Advisor to prisons today after the conclusion of the press conference and to show the nation and the whole of Pakistan that no one is adversely treated in the jails of Sindh.
He said that on December 9, 2022, a delegation of the National Commission for Human Rights, headed by its Chairperson Rabia Jawaria Agha, visited the women and children’s prison, they recorded their impression in visitor books and praised the facilities and environment provided in the children’s prison. On this occasion, Advisor for Prisons Aijaz Jakhrani said that the best food is being provided to the prisoners in the jails of Sindh and such precedent doesn’t exist all over the country. He said that the food which is given to the prisoners is also served to the prison staff.
On this occasion, commenting on the supply of flour in Sindh, the Provincial Information Minister said that there is a storm of inflation in the country at the moment, the financial situation of the country is not ideal. But despite this, the Sindh government is doing its best to provide maximum relief to the people.He said that the Sindh government is providing Rs 65 per kg flour to deserving families by giving subsidies of billions of rupees. He said that flour is being provided to 525000 families on a daily basis from September 15, which will continue till March. He said that those who cannot afford to buy flour can purchase Atta on subsidies rates from the Sindh government stalls.
On this occasion, Provincial Food Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said that subsidized flour is being provided at 198 points in Karachi designated shops and through mobile stalls. He said that 500 to 600 bags of flour are available in mobile stalls every day and 125000 bags of flour are being provided to the people in Karachi every day, while monthly 5000,000 bags are made available to the public.
He said that 350,000 bags of flour are being provided daily in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana and other divisions of Sindh. He added that a lot of complaints were received in Hyderabad. On which the flour points have been increased to 20 in Hyderabad. He said that complaints have been received in Karachi as well, on which the network of Mobil Atta shops is being increased in Karachi as well. The provincial food minister said that the quality of flour is excellent, if the quality was bad, why would people buy 500,000 bags every day all over Sindh.
On the question regarding local bodies elections in Karachi, Sharjeel Inam Memon said that Pakistan People’s Party and the Sindh government wanted the elections to be held on time, so we are ready for local bodies elections. He said that if new alliances are being formed, and then it is a good thing, it will be fun to compete. This is not a big challenge for the Pakistan People’s Party.
