PESHAWAR: A total of 281 prisoners charged in petty nature cases were set free from prisons across the province after their cases were disposed of by judicial officers during their visits to prisons in their respective jurisdictions.

A few days ago Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Musarrat Hilali had issued directives to the district and sessions judges to conduct visits of the prisons along with judicial and executive magistrates for hearing and deciding cases of prisoners charged with minor offence.

The chief justice had ordered that these visits should be made ahead of the Eid festival so that such prisoners could be set free for celebrating Eid with their families.

According to data released by the high court, the highest number of 61 prisoners were released from Nowshera district prison, followed by 36 from Swat, 24 from Swabi, 18 from Khyber, 17 from Peshawar, 13 from Malakand, 11 from Kurram and 10 from Hangu.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2023