MANSEHRA: As many as 64 prisoners belonging to Abbottabad and involved in petty crimes were released from Mansehra jail on Thursday so they could celebrate Eidul Fitr with their families.

The district and sessions judge, Abbottabad, Shahid Khan and civil judge Talha Mohammad visited the Mansehra jail and organised a camp court and ordered release of the 64 inmates.

The prisoners belonging to Abbottabad are being kept here in Mansehra district jail because of the reconstruction work of Abbottabad jail, which was destroyed in the 2005 earthquake.

“Yes, 64 inmates belonging to Abbottabad have been freed and more would be released before Eid on Saturday when judges from Abbottabad would hold another camp court inside the jail,” said Abdul Qayyum, the jail superintendent.

He said that these people were arrested for their involvement in petty crimes and they could not pay their fines. He said that orders for release of more inmates were also expected during a camp court of the judges from Mansehra on Friday (today).

RELEASE ORDERED: The Abbottabad Circuit Bench of Peshawar High Court on Thursday ordered the release of Khurram Khan, tehsil president of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf who was arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order last week.

However, Mr Khan could not be released on Thursday because of another case registered against him with the city police station. Mr Khan was arrested by police on July 16 on the charges that he had incited people and blocked the Karakoram Highway after an Afghan refugee stabbed a local driver to death on Abbottabad Road on July 4. He had moved the Abbottabad Circuit Bench of the PHC against his detention.

Raja Taimur, the lawyer of Mr Khan, told mediapersons that his client had challenged his detention in the Abbottabad circuit bench which ordered his release. Mr Khan was sent to DI Khan jail soon after his arrest last week.

The PTI activist was also booked in a separate case of burning cabins of Afghan refugees during the protest after the driver’s killing and he could not be released till he was granted bail.

Three other accused in the same case had already been released on bail.

Published in Dawn, July 25th , 2014