KARACHI, July 8: The process to release over 1,600 women prisoners from 55 jails across the country under the new presidential ordinance began on Saturday with prison authorities preparing necessary documents and submitting particulars of inmates to home departments.

It is learnt that bail documents are being prepared and the release is expected to begin on Monday.

There were differing figures about prisoners to benefit from the new law. The number of women expected to get bail ranged between 1,360 and 1,690.

Around 350 women, out of a total 1,032 in various prisons of Punjab, would be freed in the province.

Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui said some 60 out of 274 women jailed in the province would benefit from the ordinance.

“There are 33 women prisoners in different jails of Balochistan and 11 of them are likely to be released in a couple of days,” said Superintendent Quetta Jail Ghulam Murtaza Kasi. He said particulars of cases of 11 prisoners involved in cases other than murder and terrorism had been sent to the authorities concerned.

Chief Minister Jam Yousuf visited Quetta Jail and announced two months’ remission for prisoners involved in minor crimes. He said the government would pay up to Rs10,000 fine for prisoners who had completed their terms but could not be released for non-payment of fine.

In the NWFP, 334 women are in jails facing various charges.