KARACHI: 43 prisoners let off on parole in a year, PA told
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 5: A total of 43 prisoners have been released on parole from Central Prison Karachi since Dec 1, 2002. However, their affiliation to any party, if any, is not known.
The information was provided in a written reply tabled in the Sindh Assembly, alongwith order of the day, on Friday by Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar, who also holds the portfolio of home affairs. The question was raised by Mohammad Yunus Khan.
In reply to another question, asked by the same member, the House was informed that 294 prisoners had been transferred from the Central Prison Karachi to different district jails in the province between Jan 1 and Aug 10, 2003.
The questions hour could not be taken up as members from both sides consumed more than 45 minutes in raising points of order which were followed by the debate on law and order situation in Sindh.
It was the day for the question hour for Home department. The members had put a total of 14 questions. Two out of the four questions not replied were asked by Mr Aziz Ahmed Jatoi whereas one each of the rest were asked by Ms Shamim Ara Panhwar and Abdul Rehman.
Mr Jatoi wanted to know the number of criminal cases and head money as have been withdrawn by the Sindh government since Feb 1, 1997 and district-wise details of the number of arms licenses issued during the present government’s tenure.
Ms Panhwar’s unanswered question pertained to the number of women police stations in each district of the province and details about their locations and the sanctioned strength of DSPs, inspectors, sub-inspectors, ASIs and constables of each police station besides the number of other staff posted there. She also asked whether there was a shortage of staff and, if yes, what were the reasons and what steps the government intended to take in this regard.
Mr Abdul Rehman’s unanswered question was whether the number of bus, taxi and rickshaw stands in Hyderabad city was more than their actual requirement which, he believed, added to nuisance for general public. If so, whether the government intended to reduce the number.
In reply to Ms Sharafun Nisa’s questions, the House was informed that there were no narcotic dens in Khairpur Nathan Shah and on Sita Road in Dadu district. A strict vigilance Is being kept by the local police to check the menace, the House was assured.
In reply to a question by Ms Panhwar, the House was told that since Jan 1, 2003, only one incident of kidnapping took place in Shadi Palli area of Mirpurkhas district where two persons Noor Hassan Solangi and Abdul Rehman Bhurgari were kidnapped. The victims were recovered and cases were registered by Shadi Palli police against nine accused, three of whom were killed in an encounter with Hyderabad police. Of the remaining six accused, two are on bail, three are at large and one is in police custody.
In reply to another question by the same member, the House was informed that there was only one district jail in Mirpurkhas where 211 prisoners were kept against its capacity of 75 inmates. The House was told that the jail authority had taken steps for shifting of some prisoners to other Jails viz Central Prison Hyderabad and special prison Nara (Hyderabad) after obtaining NOC from courts while proposal about construction of a new district jail in Mirpurkhas was under process.
In reply to Syed Murad Ali Shah’s question, the House was provided dates of postings and transfers of all SHOs in talukas Sehwan, Johi and Dadu since Dec 1, 2002.
In reply to a question by Ms Panhwar, the House was informed that no woman DPO was presently posted in the province as no lady police officer of the rank to be placed in grade BPS-18/19 was available at the moment. However, lady police officers up to the rank of DSP have been posted.
In response to the question by Abdul Haq Bhurt, the House was informed that since May 1, 2003, 36 cases of robbery and 87 cases of theft had been registered in Naushahro Firoz.
The assembly was also informed, in reply to Mohammad Younus Khan’s question, that between June 1 and Aug 25, 2003, only 20 prisoners were admitted to the Civil Hospital Karachi.
