Maryam Nawaz Highlights Jail Reforms, Law Supremacy at Conference

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that participation in the jail reforms conference was an honour for her and reaffirmed her commitment to the supremacy of law. She stated that no one is above the law and stressed that justice must be delivered transparently to every citizen.

The chief minister recalled her personal experience in detention, saying she was kept in solitary confinement for 24 hours at Adiala Jail. She said such conditions made her understand the psychological impact of isolation on prisoners and the feelings of helplessness faced by inmates. She also mentioned that during her time in jail, she had only books and a prayer mat with her.

Maryam Nawaz said that her experiences in prison shaped her approach toward reforms in the jail system. She noted that these experiences motivated her to introduce measures such as an emergency panic button in prisons. She added that both she and her father had been imprisoned in the same jail, which further reinforced her commitment to improving conditions for inmates.

The chief minister emphasized that protecting the basic human rights of prisoners is essential and that jail reforms aim to turn inmates into productive members of society. She said that ensuring effective and transparent justice delivery remains a top priority of her government, and reforms are being introduced to make the prison system more humane and rehabilitative.