KARACHI, Nov 16: Six hundred prisoners were released from various jails in Sindh on the first day of Eid in pursuance of the three-month remission announced by President Musharraf on the occasion.

Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui said the prisoners were released from Karachi, Sukkur, Larkana and Sanghar jails as their terms appeared over due to the remission.

Meanwhile, official sources said on Tuesday that Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and certain philanthropists paid a sum of Rs500,000 being the collective amount of the fine on behalf of these prisoners. The prisoners were not able to pay the fine money.

Mr Siddiqui said that more prisoners would be released if such donations came from other philanthropists.

He acknowledged the efforts of the IG Prisons, Brig Ayaz Maghni, and other jail officials who completed all formalities on emergency basis to make the prisoners' release possible in a short span of time.

The minister also praised IGP Syed Kamal Shah, DG Rangers Lt-General Javed Zia, CCPO Tariq Jameel, DIG Traffic Mohammad Yameen Khan, DIG Investigation Mushtaq Shah and other officials for ensuring security and better traffic arrangements during Ramazan and on the eve of the Eid.

He expressed satisfaction over the camps set up jointly by the Madadgar-15 and citizens in various areas of the city to help people lodge their complaints about civic problems on the eve of the Eid. He noted that the problems were resolved within the shortest possible time. He said that such camps should be set up on the eve of other festivals as well.

CM: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim spent a busy day exchanging Eid greetings with his cabinet ministers, senior officials and PML activists, besides a large number of people from different walks of life at the Chief Minister's House on Eid day.