RAWALPINDI: Inspector General of Prisons Punjab Mian Farooq Nazir on Tuesday directed the authorities of Cental Jail Adiala to constitute a medical board to verify the ages of 17 elderly prisoners, including two women, so that they could be released under a special remission granted by the president.

The IG issued the directions during his annual inspection visit to the prison on Tuesday.

Usually remission is granted to prisoners serving life terms, excluding those convicted in heinous crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping for ransom, anti-state activities or terrorism. The remission can be admissible on those convicts who have served one-third of their sentences.

The IG directed the jail authorities to prepare a list of 15 male convicted prisoners and two women, who are over 65 and 60 years of age respectively, and have completed one-third of their sentences.

Adiala jail directed to constitute medical board to verify ages of prisoners

After the preparation of the list, their ages would be verified through the medical board to get the special remission for their release.

The IG prisons also directed the authorities to make arrangements for the shifting of three women prisoners to the district jail of Jhelum, one woman to the central jail Gujranwala and two male prisoners to Faisalabad and Attock.

The IG said oxygen saturation plants would be provided to all jail hospitals across the province like the one which had already been installed in the Adiala jail.

He also directed them to arrange ice boxes in the heatstroke rooms of the jail hospital to provide first aid to heat affected prisoners.

The IG prisons was informed that training sessions had been arranged for 265 male and 132 female prisoners on welding, motor winding, electrician, domestic tailoring and beautician.

The IG directed the officials to also start motorcycle mechanic classes for the prisoners.

He promised that funds to construct two new classrooms in the jail would be released.

The official also directed the jail authorities to correct errors and overcome anomalies in the jail record.

Mr Nazir visited the waiting area of the visitors in addition to inspecting the under-construction family rooms, firing range and warden lines. He directed the authorities to complete the development projects as soon as possible.

The IG also gave cash awards to 91 jail staff members along with Warden Zubair Rafiq, who got first position in the basic elite training in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2017