KOHAT, Dec 10: There has been an alarming increase in the number of women and child drug carriers as smugglers continued to look for foolproof measures to supply narcotics to different parts of the country. Almost one-third of the 29 female inmates in the district prison had been arrested for smuggling drugs from the tribal areas to Punjab. Two of them belong to Punjab and 18 others belong to the NWFP. Four inmates have already been convicted and 14 others are facing trial.

The district jail superintendent, Javed Ali, said that drug smugglers were hiring women and children as carriers because they were considered less vulnerable to arrest by the law enforcement officials. “Women can carry the drugs consignment on themselves and avoid detection,” he said.

Nine juvenile prisoners are currently undergoing various terms for smuggling drugs. Children are used to smuggle arms and drugs because there are fewer chances of their arrest. He said that three women had been sentenced to death and were awaiting execution. Their names are Shahnaz, Moinjana and Kazibana.

The acting governor of the NWFP, Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan, has appealed to civil society groups and non-governmental organizations to do something about this situation during a recent visit to the prison.

A survey conducted by Dawn has shown that six prisoners who have already served their jail terms are undergoing extra punishment due to their inability to pay the stipulated fines.

Two prisoners, Yaghistan and Syed Askar Ali, would have to spend the rest of their lives in prison if they do not pay the Diyat money to the victim’s families. Both the men were fined Rs90,000 each, which they haven’t been able to arrange so far.

Four other inmates are undergoing extended imprisonment ranging from two years to six months for the same reason. Four prisoners were released a few days back after the governor announced a 60-day remission for inmates.

The district jail superintendent has requested philanthropists and NGOs to pay off fines amounting to Rs525,000 so that these prisoners could go back to leading their normal lives.