KARACHI, July 12: As many as 60 under trail women inmates lodged at Karachi Central Prison, Women Jail Hyderabad, Women Jail Larkana and Women Ward CP-II Sukkur were not released even on Wednesday due to their inability to arrange for bail amount, ranging from Rs25,000 to Rs50,000 each.

These women, entitled to be released under the Law Reforms Ordinance 2006, promulgated on July 10, are looking forward for help by philanthropists, NGOs and the women development ministry.

Apart from these 60 women, who found a ray of hope through the Presidential Ordinance 2006, there is a significant number of women prisoners who had already been released on bail by the courts but were still behind the bars as they could not arrange for the bail surety amount.

Chairperson Panah Shelter Home Board of Trustees, Dr Habiba Hasan, said that the cumulative total amount required for the bail of these women could not be arranged by any single NGO. “These resourceless women could never be in a position to arrange for the amount,” she said while referring to her previous experience that money lent by her and her associates could never be returned by women released on bail for bailable offence.

Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid cited this to be a fact and suggested that Law Reforms Ordinance 2006 be promulgated with necessary provision for acceptance of personal surety so that women could be released without any unnecessary delay. He appreciated that through the Presidential Ordinance a substantial change had been initiated as all non-bailable offence, committed by women with the exception of murder, financial corruption and terrorism, had been turned into bailable offence.

“But this must be made meaningful as a large majority of these under trial women may not benefit due to lack of money,” he said.

He said the women jail inmates, who largely pertained to the marginalised segments of society could not arrange the bail amount. “These are mainly local women with negligible chances to disappear hence personal surety should be made acceptable,” he said adding that otherwise the government itself or through reputable NGOs arrange for the amount required under stipulated surety bail.

As for personal surety, he said would guarantee that majority of these women would ensure their presence before the court, in accordance to their required hearings.

Justice (Retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, in this context, mentioned that the number of under trial women, imprisoned in four different jails of Sindh, may increase from 156 to 265 as many of the women prisoners imprisoned for murder or terrorism or financial corruption with their cases pursued by the National Accountability Bureau, would also be entitled for release, in near future, if found to be languishing in jail for the last six months or more without any court hearing.

“This is also a provision ensured under the ordinance promulgated on July 10, this year,” he reminded.

Meanwhile, some 60 under trial prisoners expected to be released from Karachi Women Prison, as per Presidential Ordinance could not be freed on Wednesday too due to awaited clearance from the courts they were being tried by. “We are waiting for pre-approved bail and release orders by the courts trying these prisoners,” the jail superintendent had told journalists.

Sources associated with women development department said all arrangements had been finalised to accommodate those of the released women inmates who would need shelter. “We had been expecting their arrival, however, we were told that their release would be managed in a few days,” they said.—APP