Minister told to look into mistreatment, forced prostitution of female prisoners

ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) - The Senate Committee on Internal Affairs has expressed grave concern over reports of female prisoners being sexually abused and mistreated in the country's jails. It also directed the Minister of State for Internal Affairs Balighur Rehman to submit a detailed report on the matter.

According to the media, Committee chairman Senator Rehman Malik was informed on Monday that some jail officials were also involved in these activities, but no serious action had been taken against them so far.

Malik also directed all four Inspector General Jails to investigate into such reports and brief the committee as soon as possible.

However, it is not clear where such activities are most common.

Afterwards, talking to Voice of America, Senator Shahi Syed of Awami National Party (ANP) said that the committee had also proposed separate jails for men and women to check such incidents.

Pakistan has only three jails dedicated for female prisoners, while its remaining 90 jails have separate barracks for men and women.