ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told National Assembly on Wednesday the government was taking steps to introduce Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that would provide legal aid to the women prisoners.

In a written reply to a question raised by Mrs Jamila Ahmed MNA, the minister said the legal aid was aimed at providing relief to the women prisoners jailed in petty cases.

He said a number of steps had been taken for the welfare of women prisoners during last two years.

The minister said President General Pervez Musharraf had recently issued an ordinance for release of women prisoners languishing in jails on various charges except those who were involved in murder or acts of terrorism. “As a result of this decision 1,300 imprisoned women were released from various jails in the country,” he said.

He said in Punjab, lady advisers of the Chief Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi visited jails frequently to provide maximum benefits to the women inmates.