July 09, 2006	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 12, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, July 8: As many as 106 under-trial women prisoners in Adiala Jail are to benefit from the new presidential ordinance, and will be released after the judicial process is completed, official sources said.

Out of the total, 78 had been arrested in connection with narcotics related cases, six under Hadood Ordinance, and the rest were involved in robbery, theft and other petty crimes.

At present, there are 201 female prisoners in Adiala jail, out of whom 80 have been convicted in different cases, while 15 will not be benefited by the new law for involvement in murder cases. The convicted women prisoners included 20 foreigners.

There are 58 children with their mothers (female prisoners), out of whom 23 are school-going (under the age of 6).

When contacted, Adiala Jail Superintendent Tariq Babar said after the promulgation of the ordinance to facilitate the release of detained women, a magistrate visited the jail on Saturday and examined their case files. Mr Babar said out of the 201 prisoners, 106 who were found illegible for bail under the new law.

“The judicial process of the under-trial women prisoners (non of them a foreigner) would take a few days as respective courts would grant them bails,” Mr Babar said and added that “non of the imprisoned women were involved in any terrorism case”.

According to the new law the women imprisoned in cases other than murder and terrorism would be released on bail.

ONLINE ADDS: Federal Minister for Women Development and Youth Affairs Sumaira Malik on Saturday visited Adiala Jail.

Briefing mediapersons after the visit, the federal minister said: “The jail authorities informed her that a final list of 106 women has been prepared who would be released soon on bail. Though they have to file a request for bail.”

The cases regarding these women are pending with the courts, still the list for their release is being sent to district and sessions judge Rawalpindi. They will be released soon after grant of bail.

“The process of release of women prisoners has started. In future, women would not be allowed to be kept in jails after their arrest. They will have the right of bail,” she told reporters.