KARACHI, Jan 1: The Sindh government took on Tuesday the major step of increasing from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000 the amount that may be paid on behalf of female juvenile prisoners unable to meet surety amounts or diyat, and remain in jail for this reason.

Prompted by efforts made by the Sindh caretaker minister for Women’s Development, Nadira Panjwani, the decision was announced at the tenth meeting of the Committee for Female Prisoners.

The meeting was attended by the secretary of the department, Subhan Memon, as well as representatives of the provincial government’s law, home, finance, social welfare and women’s departments.

Mr Memon informed the participants that not only had the provincial government notified the doubled amount, it had also reconstituted the committee to include new members who would decide the cases of female juvenile prisoners who may benefit from the revolving fund of the Rs20 million earmarked for the purpose.

The new members are the additional secretary of the finance department, the additional accountant-general Sindh, a representative each of the Edhi Home for Women and of Lawyers for Human Rights, a nominee of Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid of the Committee for the Welfare of Women Prisoners and of the Society for Health, Education and Environment.

A source privy to the meeting said that the increase in the payment of surety amount had been made since some inmates had to languish in jail for a long time because their surety demand was over Rs50,000. The committee has been expanded in order to expedite cases, and from now on male juvenile prisoners will also benefit from the Sindh government’s fund. The source added that after their release, inmates could be facilitated in terms of transport to their homes, if required.

Ms Panjwani asked the members to furnish their views and comments on draft modalities (the rules for operating the fund) as soon as possible so that they could be sent for approval by the competent authorities. In addition, the caretaker minister for women’s development directed the officials of the department to vigorously pursue the matter with the finance department and ensure the early release of the remaining amount as approved by the chief minister before the end of the financial year. She asked the inspector-general prisons to furnish the fresh list of cases of female juvenile prisoners who would benefit from the increased bail surety amount.

Through this revolving fund of Rs20 million, 20 prisoners have so far benefited while six further prisoners are due to be helped by June 30, 2008.