Progress Report

Up till now what steps have been taken by Prisons Mission Society (PMS) and what has been achieved?

• Prisons Mission Society (PMS) has provided religious education for the prisoners on a weekly basis.
• PMS has helped the prisoners improve their academic qualifications and PMS has made an amendment in the Pakistan Prison Rules and provided a religious syllabus for Minority prisoners, according to which if any Christian / Hindu prisoner, like Muslim prisoners, attains religious education, he/she will get reduction in his/her sentence with the cooperation of the Government of Pakistan and jail authorities. This because for many years Muslim Prisoners have been allowed some reduction of their sentences if they gain religious education. The same opportunity should be allowed to Christian prisoners under rule 215 of the Pakistan Prison Rulers (Jail Manual). Up till now Christian prisoners have not been able to avail this opportunity because Rule 215 does not specify a syllabus for non-Muslim Prisoners.
• Attain permission from the Jail Authorities and Courts for setting up of Educational and Examination Centers within the jail premises.
• Attaining permission from the Jail Authorities and Courts for holding lectures and seminars for the prisoners on various issues.We have providing 170 educated and qualified teachers/Pastors/Doctors and Professors for education in different prisons of Pakistan.
• PMS has made an amendment in Pakistan Prison Rule for the minorities’ prisoners that the Christian teachers/Pastors who teach inside the prisons in Pakistan should be an intermediate / graduate from any recognized Board of Education / University and that their religious education will be Bachelor of Theology / Master of Divinity from a recognized Seminary or University.

Report by:

Rev. Maurice Shahbaz
Founder & Director,
Prisons Mission Society
Aziz Colony, Sialkot Road
P.O. Box 70,
Gujranwala – 52250
Pakistan
E-mail: prisonsmissionsociety@yahoo.com
Web: prisonsmissionsociety.org