In compliance of SC orders, two organizations sign MoU to initiate advocacy process, prepare recommendations for reforms
Karachi: Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA) and a non-governmental organization Justice Society have joined hands to work for the welfare of inmates suffering from mental aliments in different prisons of the province.
Both the organizations on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for working jointly for betterment of the inmates. The MoU was signed by Dr. Karim Khawaja chairman SMHA and Barrister Sara Bilal Executive Director of the Society.
Under the agreement, the SMHA and JPS will ensure diagnosis and treatment of the prisoners having different mental disorders and also launching of advocacy campaign for introducing legal and judicial reforms for such prisoners.
“The Supreme Court had directed all the provincial governments of country to introduce legal and judicial reforms for the prisoners lodged in jails, constituting medical boards consisting of psychiatrists and other experts of this field for checkup of the inmates and diagnosis of their mental disorders for treatment and for proceeding the cases keeping in view their conditions,” Ms. Zainab Mahboob, Director of the NGO told adding that the SMHA and the Justice Society will undertake the checkup of inmates in compliance of the court order.
“This will help to identify the inmates who are genuinely suffering from mental disorders, and nobody can take undue benefit of such ailments,” she said.
Dr. Karim Khawaja said that the apex court has directed for separate prosecution, legal and judicial as well as jail manual reforms. “All these reforms are direly needed and Sindh is the first province to take initiative for compliance of the apex court orders.”
“Sindh has imparted training to police and judicial officers but still lot of work is yet to be dome. The SMHA and Justice Society will hold consultation psychiatrists, expert psychologists, legal and judicial experts to prepare recommendations for legal and judicial reforms and devising a mechanism for carrying out checkup of the inmates,” Dr. Karim Khawaja told.
Senior doctor Muhammad Bux Dahani and others were present on this occasion.
____________________
Sindh Courier
