September 30, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 29, 2008

KARACHI, Sept 29: As many as 68 convicts, including six women, will be released on Tuesday from different prisons in the province under the remission announced by the president of Pakistan on the occasion of Eidul Fitr.

Provincial prison chief Yamin Khan told Dawn that a special remission of 90 days have been granted to prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment other than those convicted of murder, espionage, anti-state activities, sectarianism, Zina (Section 10 offence of Zina Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979 (also under section 377 of PPC), robbery (section 394 of PPC), dacoity (section 395-396), kidnapping/abduction (sections 364-A & 365-A) and acts of terrorism (as defined in the Anti- terrorism (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 1999; special remission for 45 days to all other convicts, except the condemned prisoners and also except those convicted of murder, espionage, anti-state activities, sectarianism, Zina (Section 10 offence of Zina Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979 (also under section 377 of PPC), kidnapping/abduction (sections 364-A & 365-A), robbery (Section 394 of PPC), dacoity (Sections 395-396 of PPC) and those undergoing sentences under the Foreigners Act of 1946.

He said that the special remission granted by the president in exercise of powers under Article 45 of the Constitution would be admissible to those who have already undergone two-third of their substantive jail sentences.

He said 68 prisoners would be released on Tuesday and 154 others, including six women, would be benefited under the special remission across the province.

The provincial prison chief said that a total remission was given to male prisoners who were 65 years of age or above and had undergone at lease one-third of their substantive jail sentence, except those involved in culpable homicide and involved in acts of terrorism, as defined in the Anti-terrorism (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 1999 (No XIII of 1999). Similarly, Mr Khan said, a total remission was granted to female prisoners who were 60 years of age or above and had undergone at least one-third of their substantive jail sentences, except those involved in culpable homicide and those involved in acts of terrorism, as defined in the Anti-terrorism (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 1999 (No XIII of 1999).

“Special remission of one year was granted to female prisoners who accompany children and are serving sentences for crimes other than culpable homicide and those involved in acts of terrorism, and a total remission was given to juvenile convicts (under 18 years of age) who have served one-third of their substantive sentences, except those involved in culpable homicide, acts of terrorism,” he added.

Giving the breakup, the provincial prison chief said that six convicts would be released from the Central Prison Karachi, 35 from District Malir Jail, eight from Hyderabad Jail, four from Sukkur Prison-1, three from Mirpurkhas Jail, one from Sanghar Jail, five from Central Prison, Nara, Hyderabad, and six convicted women would be released from Women Prison, Karachi.

Mr Khan said that the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, would also announce a 30-day remission for the prisoners. “More prisoners will be released once the CM announces pardon for the prisoners,” he added.The prison chief said that people could visit the jail inmates from 9am to 5pm on the three-day Eid holidays.