QUETTA: Parliamentary Secretary Law and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Rubaba Khan Buledi said that the Balochistan government has conveyed its opinion to the federal Ministry of Law and Justice regarding setting up of divisional level medical board for the assessment of psychological inmates.

She said while talking to the Inspector General of Balochistan Prison Malik Shujauddin Kasi who called on her here at the office of the Law Department on Tuesday.

Parliamentary Secretary Law said that under Prison Rules 1978, the Federal Ministry of Law and Justice had sought an opinion from all provinces on assessment of mentally ill patients at jails by divisional medical board instead of single doctor.

“A written opinion had been sought from the provinces and comprehensive recommendations and reply on the subject matter have been prepared and sent on behalf of Balochistan government.”

Parliamentary Secretary Law and Parliamentary Affairs said that prisoners are involved in serious crimes, and their relatives claim that they are mentally ill and committed the crime due to being mentally unfit.

This stance of the relatives of the prisoners, in routine practice, is confirmed by a single doctor of the prison under the Prison Rules, 1978.

However, the Supreme Court of Pakistan in its judgments has suggested replacing the process of medical certification with a board consisting of medical experts instead of a general doctor.

As medical prisons Rules 1978 duly apply to all four provinces of the country, the Federal Ministry of Law and Justice has asked them for their opinion on improvement in the jail rules.

Following the directives of the apex court, a comprehensive reply with written proposals has been prepared and sent by Balochistan government to the ministry of Law and Justice.

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