Analysis (Asharab Awan)

Current IG Jails Punjab nearing retirement, survey on performance of two former and one current IG, Malik Mubashir Ahmed Khan declared favorite. In the context of the performance during the ten-year tenure of the current IG Jails Punjab, the five-year tenure of Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig, and the short four-month tenure of Malik Mubashir Ahmed Khan, a survey by Pak Network revealed that the number of people who praised Malik Mubashir Ahmed Khan’s performance was 70.40%, while only 8.06% praised the performance of the current IG Jails Punjab Mian Farooq Nazir, and the number of people who praised the performance of Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig was 6.29%. Employees of jails, relatives of prisoners, former prisoners, and public and social personalities participated in the survey. They considered their position as administrators during their four-year tenure to be a trust for the protection of the rights of deprived classes.

The aforementioned classes participating in the survey considered Malik Mubashir Ahmed Khan to have the right to the post of IG Jails. In his four-month tenure, Malik Mubashir Ahmed Khan laid the foundation for reforms that were exemplary in the discharge of duties. He took into account administrative standards and requirements, and acquainted reform with purpose. He possessed a strong desire for elderly prisoners.

He sat with an old prisoner, shared his sorrows, and made him feel neither that the administrator of a large province was sitting next to him, nor that a common man with a heart for humanity was. Among the prisoners confined within the jails are the unfortunate inmates whose eyes are cast down, and no one comes to meet them, yet their hearts yearn for their loved ones. As IG Jails Punjab, Malik Mubashir Ahmed Khan issued an order during his visits that such prisoners should be provided telephone facility free of charge. During his tenure, he would go to the kitchen and check the standard of food himself and then eat it himself, to convey that any compromise on the quality and quantity of food for the inmates was unacceptable.

The past is witness that under the special directive of Malik Mubashir Ahmed Khan, a nutritional awareness camp was organized under the auspices of the National Institute of Food and Technology, in which nutritional experts provided complete awareness to the inmates regarding their dietary needs. After examining the weight, height, glucose level, bone density, calcium level, and fats of the inmates, they were directly informed about their nutritional requirements.

Special attention was given to the nutritional needs of women inmates and children. In the same camp, nutritional experts highlighted the importance of a balanced diet and also informed the prisoners about preventive measures to avoid diseases such as stomach problems, bone weakness, and obesity. As IG Jails Punjab, Malik Mubashir Ahmed Khan ensured the provision of standard food according to the menu prepared by the nutritional experts of the National Institute of Food and Technology to all inmates confined in the jails of Punjab. The health of the inmates was made the first priority, as a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. Basic medicines were ensured to be provided in the healthcare centers established in the jails, and during his tenure, 417 medical camps were organized in the jails of Punjab, in which 4353 doctors provided healthcare facilities to 44818 inmates.

Other measures for the improvement of the department included upgrades, salary increases, welfare of prisoners and junior staff, constant availability to listen to the problems of officers and ordinary personnel, addressing the complexities and difficulties in their transfers, and the formation of WhatsApp groups to address their deprivations, ensuring timely action on applications received on WhatsApp, and redressing the grievances of the relatives of prisoners. Who can deny his stance that a healthy body and mind of inmates helps in developing positive attitudes and becoming responsible citizens? The majority of children in schools, prisoner barracks, and our country do.