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11-June-2007

FROM FP'S DESK

Life is unpredictable no doubt. The up's and down's all of us face are a part and parcel of the price we pay for being alive. When confronted with problems and troubles, whether as individuals, as families or as nations, the manner in which we deal with the issue is what defines and builds our character and the destiny of nations. Stooping to levels of unethical and desperate measures to resolve crises and impediments only degrade and puts to further shame the individuals and the nation. Hope, integrity and perseverance are actually the key words, which must exist and function, in our everyday lives. Sorrows, difficult and hard times are tests and the manner in which they are dealt with is what makes or breaks personalities and countries. Many of us who face trials and tribulations come out of it as better human beings.
The way society and the people living in that society deal with crime and the offenders is what actually shows up in the form of either a positive reformed prisoner leaving the confines of jail or as an individual adding on to the long list of hardened murderer's and blood-thirsty criminals. And what better example of society's impact can there be than within the four walls of a prison. Than the dark and crowded jail wards, where over crowded rooms, a few floor mattresses and a stench of human bodies hurled together is a sight most of us imagine when we talk about jails and prisoners.
Our brave woman achiever today is none other than a superintendent of the women jail in Karachi. She is Sheeba Shah, a dedicated, well-spoken and educated lady. A lady totally committed to bring about a positive change in the lives of the women and children, many of whom have been born in jail. Definitely not the best environment and surroundings to be born into. This is where Sheeba and her humane and professional work ethics are helping to ease and bring whatever positive changes in the lives of these women and children.
I had met Sheeba almost five years ago, when she had recently taken charge of the women's jail. She quickly and effectively took control and changed the miserable living conditions as well as sometimes in human treatment of women lodged in Karachi central jail. Many changes have been brought in the women's jail during Sheeba Shah's six years and here I must mention that reforms are always brought into effect in any organization and especially the government or public sector, with the consensus and encouragement of the person heading that organization. In this case the I.G. prison was Brig (R) Nisar Maher who was instrumental in bringing about revolutionary positive changes in Karachi central jail. I had witnessed the administrative policies that the jail operated under prior to Brig. Nisar Maher when a bureaucrat was the I.G. and the level of corruption and misdeeds being carried out. The prejudices, the personal likes and dislikes of the jailers were blatantly obvious. We might criticize the placement of army officials heading vital organizations in the country, but the jails were indeed an exception, where first Brig (R) Nisar Maher and than Brig. (R) Ayaz Mughni indeed brought about effective and solid reforms and changes within the confines of the jails in Sindh and in particular the jails in Karachi.
Due to pressing commitments (of course the continues load-shedding played a major part in disturbing my entire weeks schedule) I was unable to interview Sheeba personally and our very enthusiastic reporter Aamir was not only eager to carry out the interview, but also left the women's jail with a very positive image and interview Aamir and Muhammad Ahmed our photographer were not expecting the jail superintendent to be a soft spoken and attractive, yet firm and humane lady called Sheeba Shah.
Sheeba must be encouraged to carry on with the pioneering work she has undertaken and we hope that women jails in the country shall emulate the reform process that has already started in women's jail Karachi.
Qudsia Kadri

Soft spoken woman on a tough assignment: Sheeba Shah

Ms. Sheeba Shah, Superintendent Women Jail is not doubt a soft spoken woman on a tough assignment as she has been dealing with those women of our society who have been pushed away from the society due to various misdeeds. Sheeba enjoys her stay at the women jail and is working to bring positive changes in the customary functioning of jails.
Before holding an interview with Sheeba Shah, I was expecting to see a stern, tight lipped woman but surprisingly, Ms. Sheeba Shah turned out to be a charming lady with a sweet smile, who was much concerned about the well being of the prisoners.

FP: First of all, can you please tell us something about yourself, your background, childhood and college life?
SS: My mother tongue is Sindhi and I belong to Shikarpur, Sindh. I received all my education in Karachi and I have done my Masters in Home Economics. Most of my relatives live in Shikarpur and we often visit our native village. When we get tired from the hectic routine of our lives we go back to the village to relax and take some time off. I have five sisters and two brothers and my father has always supported the entire family and stood by us in all that we have done.
FP: How did you enter the police force? Was it through the competitive examinations and what motivated you to become a police officer?
SS: Well, it was not something which I planned earlier and I can say that it happened accidentally or surprisingly. After doing my Masters, I saw an advertisement appearing in a newspaper so I decided to enter the competitive examination and fortunately I qualified. Afterwards, I was appointed as the Superintendent of Women Jail and I have been working as the Superintendent for the past six and a half years.
FP: How supportive was your family towards your profession?
SS: Very supportive. I must mention here that all members of my family have always supported me and appreciated my choice of becoming a police woman. Particularly, my father always supported and encouraged me, which always gave me a boost to put in my best efforts at work and attain an esteemed position so that my father could always be proud of me.
FP: It is not an easy thing for a woman to survive or compete in this male dominated society? Did you ever face any problems as a police woman?
SS: I totally agree that it is not easy for a woman to survive in this male dominated society but fortunately, I never faced any problems when I joined the police force. When I started my career, I faced some temporary difficulties but all of them vanished within a year as I realized how the system works and people always respected me. Besides, I am of the opinion that it was not the gender that gets all the respect and saluting but it is the rank, which is being respected and saluted by everyone.
FP: When did you take charge of Women's Jail as its Superintendent and can you please share your experience at women's jail?
SS: Some six and half years ago, I took charge of women jail as its superintendent. I enjoy myself working here, for the betterment of jail's environment and am willing to act as the superintendent women jail in the days to come as I would prefer to continue to put in my efforts for improving the conditions of women who are presently in jail and to help implement the many reforms which have been brought about to help change the lives of these women once they leave the prision and start an almost new life for themselves.
FP: You must be dealing with women from different segments of society in this jail. Can you please give us some details, the number of women in your jail, reasons for detention, women under trial and convicted women?
SS: A total of 133 women are currently in the women jail, of which 59 women are under trial prisoners (UTP), 22 children, and 61 convicted women. Majority of the women in custody are involved in cases of theft, robberies, drugs trafficking, ransom for kidnapping, murder, and zina etc. We have a mix of local and foreign prisoners at women jail and most of the foreign prisoners are involved in drug trafficking cases.
FP: Keeping in view the current situation do you think it is easy for a woman to get justice, if not, what measures would you recommend to bring positive changes in the society?
SS: As compared to the past, situation has improved significantly as far as the access to justice is concerned particularly in the past three years. Like other jails, we do not face any problems in taking prisoners to courts for the hearings and we are making all out efforts to ensure that women prisoners get justice on time.
FP: According to rough estimates, around 60 percent of women prisoners are under trail, why is this so, is there no justice in disposing cases when a women is confined or away from her family and children?
SS: As I said earlier, 59 prisoners in women jail are under trial prisoners, out of a total of 133 prisoners and these prisoners are being taken to courts according to the dates of their hearing without any delays. The delay in getting justice for these women depends on the court's proceedings and complexities of their cases. We on our part are effectively playing our role according to the rule of law.
FP: Can you please give us some details about foreign women prisoners in your jail?
SS: The foreign women prisoners at the women jail are in custody mainly due to drug trafficking. These foreigners belong to South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania and other African countries. Foreign prisoners are provided new clothes on Christmas every year and are made to feel special by organizing Christmas parties on their special occasions.
FP: Can you give us comments on the current status of women prisoners involved in cases of Zina, which has been very high in the past?
SS: We have seen a sharp decline in cases of Zina and a very small number of women in detention are involved in Zina cases as a number of women have been freed from jails as many cases were disposed off by the courts on the implementation of new women protection bill.
FP: What is the size of funding you receive from the government to smoothly and effectively run the Jail?
SS: There is no absolute amount allocated by the government for women jail. It is our responsibility to inform the government about the financial requirements of this jail and the government then subsequently disburses fund as per request. Groceries, medicines, clothing and other essential commodities are provided to the jail by the government, whereas a number of NGOs and philantrophist's continuously provide various items and medicines for the welfare of women prisoners.
FP: Tell us about the reforms undertaken to improve the status of women prisoners since you have been the Superintendent?
SS: During my tenure, I started Holy Quran classes for the Muslim women prisoners and arrangements have also been made for Christian prisoners so that they could learn the Bible. Not only this, I have also started a computer literacy program at the jail premises where women prisoners are given training on basic computer programs. I must mention here that one of my woman prisoners, who learned computer at the jail's premises, after being released is currently working in a bank, which is really an achievement for me. We have also installed swings at women jail premises so that the children could have some fun and be involved in active sports. This give them a chance to give vent to their energies after being in lock-up.
A number of recreational activities are also undertaken at the women jail from time to time which includes sewing, embroidery, and stitching etc. I am planning to stage an exhibition to promote these products manufactured by women prisoners so that they could get handsome returns on their works and could perhaps feel some amount of independence even though they are jailed. A vegetable garden, computer rooms, doctor's consulting room, school and kitchens for prisoners and their innocent children have also been established at women jail.
FP: How do you thing we can involve the community, specially the business community in the rehabilitation of women prisoners?
SS: The society plays the most important role in accepting men and women once they are released from prison. Women already face a handicap in the way of discrimination at the work place and once a women has served a jail term as an offender, she has a much more difficult time to integrate back into society. Our business community can play a great role in the rehabilitation of many of these women. Since most of them leave the prison with some form of skill they can without difficulty be placed in different factories and organizations to earn an honest living in order to support themselves and their children. It will make life so much easier for women offenders if they were accepted without any problem back into society by their families, spouses and their social circle of friends. The business community should now be actively involved in rehabilitating women offenders and the government should also play its role in supporting these victims to attain and live a decent and honet life.
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