KARACHI, Nov 6: A three-hour long musical programme was organized, in connection with the Eidul Fitr, for the inmates of the Special Prison for Women in the city on Sunday morning.

A few artists as well as a few inmates, foreign and local, sang national and folk songs to entertain the inmates at the function organized by an NGO, A. B. Humanitarian Trust.

A magic show was also organized for the children of the woman inmates. The children were enthralled by the tricks performed by the magician.

The deputy speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Rahila Tiwana, who was the chief guest, on the occasion, urged the inmates to learn some trades likes, embroidery, stitching etc during their stay in the prison so that when they were released they could use their skills and earn a respectable livelihood and supplement their family incomes.

Responding to various issues raised by the speakers earlier, she assured them that she would raise those issues at the relevant quarters and hoped that those issues would be solved on priority.

Earlier, Jail Superintendent Sheeba Shah said that there were at least 15 inmates who had been granted bails by the courts but as the surety amount ranged between Rs25,000 and Rs100,000, these poor prisoners could not pay it and were still in the jail. She said that if somebody could arrange the funds these unfortunate inmates could be released.

She said that the jail authorities also faced difficulties in arranging the air tickets for the foreign prisoners, majority of whom were involved in drug smuggling, so that such inmates after completing their sentences here could be sent back home.

The jail superintendent said that at least 10 washrooms in the prison were in bad shape and the room used for clinic was also in a dilapidated condition and both needed immediate repairs.

She said that that very few quarters were for the jail staff and many members of the staff lived at far off places.

Later, Ms Tiwana distributed gift packets among the children, and lunch was arranged for all the inmates as well as the prison staff.

She also visited different barracks of the prison.