Islamabad (HRNW)- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said she was kept in solitary confinement for 24 hours in Adiala Jail, adding that only those who have experienced prison life can truly understand its psychological impact.
She made these remarks while addressing the Prison Reforms Conference in Islamabad. Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also addressed the conference. Before her speech, a documentary highlighting prison reforms in Punjab was screened.
Maryam Nawaz said she had introduced prison reforms based on her personal experiences during incarceration. She added that she did not want to discuss politics at the conference but wanted to share the lessons she learned while in prison.
“I was kept in solitary confinement for 24 hours in Adiala Jail. I understand the impact of solitary confinement on mental health. Only those who go through it in prison know what it feels like. No one heard my screams in jail, and after going to prison, I realized how a helpless prisoner feels,” she said.
The Punjab Chief Minister stated that her observations during imprisonment inspired the modernization of Punjab’s prisons. She said video-link facilities have been introduced for prisoners, while access to books and prayer rooms has also been improved. According to her, several new reforms have been implemented to improve prison conditions and inmate welfare across the province.
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