04 November 2004	Thursday	20 Ramazan 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: The Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the advocates general of the four provinces to submit the lists of parole cases to the court within one month.

The bench later adjourned the case for the next session. The bench comprised Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Allama Dr Khalid Mahmood and Justice Allama Dr Rashid Ahmed Jullundhari.

At the last hearing, the bench had summoned the attorney general and the four provincial advocates general to explain as to how convicts of crimes against society were released on parole.

On Wednesday, Advocate General, Punjab, Syed Shabbir Raza Rizvi, Advocate General, NWFP, Jehanzeb Rahim, Advocate General Balochistan, Salahud Din Mengal and Additional Advocate General, Sindh, Qazi Khalid, appeared before the court to explain the parole policy being implemented by their respective provinces.

Advocate General, Punjab, Shabbir Rizvi told the court that no prisoner in the province convicted under Hadd, narcotics or terrorism was granted parole. On the contrary, the NWFP presented a report according to which 10 prisoners, all involved in cases of narcotics, were released on parole.

The bench directed the advocates general to present to the court within one month the list of offences added to the Good Conduct and Prisoners Probation Rules 1926.

The bench took up the matter of parole when it was informed through a report that the NWFP government had released a person on parole convicted under Hadd for his involvement in drug- trafficking.

Muhammad Shafi, the convict, was arrested by the DI Khan police for possessing five kilograms opium. Subsequently, he was sentenced to seven-year rigorous imprisonment under Article 3 of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order 1979 by Sessions Judge, D.I.Khan. The conviction was, however, maintained by the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) on an appeal.

Mohammad Shafi later challenged the FSC decision into the Supreme Court and during the pendency of the case the convict was released on parole on March 30, 2004 by the NWFP government.

During the hearing, advocate M. Bilal also appeared before the court on behalf of the NWFP government, while Raja Abdur Rehman, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab, was also present in the court.