Representatives from SHARP and the European Union met senior prison officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to plan a joint intervention focused on improving detainee welfare and legal protection. Attendees included Ms. Una Kelly, First Secretary Rule of Law at the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Usman Mehsud, Inspector General of Prisons, and Mr. Amin Shoaib, DIG Prison Inspectorate. SHARP was represented by Mr. Mudassar Javed, CEO; Ms. Memoona Batool, Project Director; and Mr. Manzoor Ali, Manager Legal.
Discussion centered on the upcoming project Enhancing Access to Justice and Protection for Vulnerable Detainees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a focus on expanding legal aid, strengthening protection mechanisms and ensuring practical access to justice for detainees who face heightened risks. Participants examined how legal assistance and rights-based approaches can be integrated into prison procedures to benefit those most in need.
Conversations also explored collaborative capacity building for prison staff and local partners, rights-based interventions tailored to the provincial context, and community-institutional support systems that can promote detainee welfare. The meeting emphasized the importance of training, procedural reforms and coordination between civil society, legal practitioners and prison authorities to make Access to Justice more effective on the ground.
Officials highlighted the local relevance of the initiative for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and outlined steps for continued coordination to translate the project concept into targeted actions that improve protection and legal services for vulnerable detainees.
