ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: The government on Wednesday announced total remission to the men and women prisoners aged 65 years or above, and juvenile prisoners, on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.

A notification issued by the ministry of interior said the president, exercising his prerogative under Article 45 of the Constitution, and on the advice of the prime minister, has granted special remission in sentences according to the following schedule.

A special remission of six months has been granted to the prisoners convicted for life, except those convicted for murder, espionage, anti-state activities, sectarianism, Zina (Sec 10 offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979 (also under Sec 377 PPC), robbery (Sec 394 PPC), dacoity (Sec 395-396 PPC), kidnapping/abduction (Sec 364-A & 365-A), and terrorist acts (as defined in the Anti-Terrorism (Second Amendment) Ord, 1999 (No. XIII of 1999).

A special remission of three months has been granted to all other convicts except the condemned prisoners and also except those convicted of murder, espionage, subversion, anti-state activities, terrorist act (as defined in the Anti-Terrorism (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 1999, (No. XIII of 1999), Zina (Sec 10 offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979, (also under section 377 PPC), kidnapping/abduction (Sec 364-A & 365-a) robbery (Sec 394 PPC), dacoity (Sec 395-396 PPC) and those undergoing sentences under the Foreigners Act, 1946.

Total remission has been granted to male prisoners who are 65 years of age or above and have undergone at least 1/4th of their substantive sentence of imprisonment, except those involved in culpable homicide and those involved in terrorist acts, as defined in the Anti-Terrorism (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 1999 (No. XIII of 1999).

Total remission has been given to female prisoners who are 60 years of age or above and have undergone at least 1/4th of their sentence of imprisonment, except those involved in culpable homicide and those involved in terrorist acts, as defined in the Anti-Terrorism (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 1999 (No. XIII of 1999).

Special remission of two-year has been accorded to female prisoners who have been accompanying children and are serving sentence of imprisonment for crimes other than culpable homicide and those involved in terrorist acts, as defined in the Anti Terrorism (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 1999 (No. XIII of 1999).

Total remission has been granted to juvenile convicts (under 18 years of age) who have served 1/4th of their substantive sentence except those involved in culpable homicide, terrorist act, as defined in the Anti Terrorism (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 1999 (No. XIII of 1999), Zina (Sec 10 offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979 (also under section 377 PPC), robbery (Sec 394 PPC), dacoity (Sec 395-396 PPC), kidnapping/abduction (Sec 364-A & 365-A) and anti-state activities.

Total remission to those who were sentenced with fine/fined to the tune of Rs20,000 and are suffering imprisonment only for non-payment of the fine.—APP