News Desk
According to a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Punjab Interior Department, prisoners will now have the facility to make audio and video calls to their relatives and lawyers. Prisoners can use the PCO (Prisoner Communication Outlet) from Monday to Saturday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Jail Superintendent will issue a weekly schedule for providing the PCO facility to all inmates.
The statement further mentioned that each prisoner can register up to five phone numbers for contact, and they are only allowed to communicate with immediate family members, spouses, and legal counsel. The system operator will provide the PCO facility after confirming the prisoner’s request with the Jail Superintendent on the same day. All prisoners, except those involved in terrorism and anti-state activities, are permitted to use the PCO.
According to the statement, inmates will be allowed to use the PCO for 60 to 80 minutes per week. Each prisoner will receive permission to use the PCO only upon presenting the confirmation slip from the relevant barrack in charge. To use the PCO, prisoners will have to deduct the required amount from their Prison Management Information System (PMIS) account.
The spokesperson also stated that prisoners under 18 years old and financially disadvantaged inmates will be provided the PCO facility free of charge. For prisoners involved in criminal activities or those deemed a threat to public safety, the Jail Superintendent may suspend their PCO facility. The concerned DIG (Deputy Inspector General) of the region will review the case within three days of receiving information and may restore the PCO facility based on valid reasons.
The Interior Department explained that any prisoner involved in jail-related crimes will be placed in the punishment block, and their PCO facility will be temporarily suspended. Prisoners will not be allowed conference calls. The Assistant Superintendent in charge has the authority to disconnect any call if inappropriate or objectionable language is used during the call.
The statement further clarified that if a prisoner engages in inappropriate, anti-state, or objectionable conversation, their PCO facility will be temporarily suspended. The Jail Superintendent can suspend a prisoner’s PCO facility for up to one month, and any extension beyond this period will require approval from the concerned DIG.
The Interior Department also informed that any prisoner can file complaints at the IG Jail Khana Jat Complaint Cell by dialing 6 from the phone booth free of charge. Female, juvenile, and death-row prisoners will have their own PCO booth within their barracks. All call records will be kept for at least one month, and only one PCO account will be created for each prisoner. Any violations will lead to action against the concerned authorities.
The statement concluded that the Jail Superintendent will send a computerized financial report of the PCO system to the Prison Foundation on a monthly basis. The Secretary of the Punjab Interior Department has instructed strict implementation of the issued rules and regulations.
