Despite the opening of courts across the Punjab province, the under trial prisoners are still not allowed to appear before the courts as a part of a strategy to contain the transmission of Covid-19.
No hearing could start in session, terrorism, narcotics, anti-corruption, and accountability courts. Hearing for the cases requires the presence of the convicted and under trail prisoners before the courts. The system of online hearing could also not be operated so far.
According to jail administration, they have not received the instructions regarding presenting the prisoners to the courts. In a prisoner van, usually 70 to 80 prisoners are brought to the courts and if this practice continues in the pandemic condition, there could be a big danger for the expansion of coronavirus.
According to the courts’ resources, at the first stage, the accused of terrorism and session courts will be brought to the courts. Rules and regulations are being made by all the stakeholders in this regard. However, the under trial prisoners accused of ordinary cases will not be brought to the civil courts these days.
Moreover, those prisoners will also not be presented before the court whose neither challans have been made nor their trials started so far.
The prisoners and their relatives are worried about the situation.
Not only court trials but the safety measure including smart lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus has disturbed the whole system of the country. Every other department is going through tough conditions these days.
Prime Minister Imran Khan is tackling the crisis of coronavirus. However, the public seems to be violating standard operating procedures.
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