Ghazni appoints new prison administrator

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Ghazni’s new prison administrator has vowed to improve the corrections system in Ghazni Provence, addressing human rights issues.

The new administrator, Hafizullah, an engineer who has successfully reformed prisons in Lagman and Nuristan provinces according to Afghan government officials, has recently been appointed to head up Ghazni’s prison system.

“I think human rights are very important. Through my work in Ghazni, I hope to solve all of the human rights issues associated with prisons,” said Hafizullah.

One factor Hafizullah intends to address is prisoner rehabilitation. He currently has a Mullah come to the prison regularly to teach the young prisoners, aged 18 to25, about Islam. He has contacted the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education in an attempt to get support for his prisoners.

“I want to help rehabilitate prisoners so that when they leave the prison, they can lead a normal productive life,” Hafizullah said. “I hope that the Ministry of Education will provide teachers for us to help educate the prisoners.”

Commander Michael Chin, Ghazni PRT executive officer and acting PRT commander said, “We are very hopeful that the arrival of the new prison administrator will bring more security and rule of law to Ghazni Province, and we look forward to supporting the administrator’s efforts in the near future.”

The appointment of Hafizullah coincides with the recent transfer of authority for the prisons nation-wide. Until this week, the prisons of Afghanistan fell under the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of the Interior, who controls the Afghan National Police, is now in charge of the prisons.

“Prisons were under MOI in the past,” said Hafizullah, when asked about the transfer of authority for prisons. “This change is a return to how things used to operate. The people are very happy about the change, and we do not anticipate any problems at all.”

Hafizullah has the full support of Musa Khan, Ghazni Provincial Governor, and Amir Shah, Ghazni’s National Directorate of Security chief. Both men visited him during his first few days in his new post to wish him luck and offer their support. Amir Shah provided NDS personnel and supplies to help guard the prison.

“I am 100 percent confident that my security personnel would be able to defend this prison against any threats,” said Hafizullah.