KARACHI, Nov 23: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday pardoned the remaining sentence of a woman who had been handed down a 15-month jail term on drug charges in May by a special court for control of narcotics substance.

A division bench comprising Justices Gulzar Ahmed and Imam Bux Baloch ordered the release of Fouzia Bano, who had been arrested on April 24 by the Anti-Narcotics Force at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport.

The woman, mother of four, was carrying heroin in her abdomen and was arrested outside the international departure lounge on a tip-off by Sub-Inspector Mohammed Afzal, who was patrolling the area.

She was later sent to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where she excreted the drug.

The trial court sentenced her to rigorous imprisonment for 15 months. She was also fined Rs10,000.

The convict filed an appeal in the high court praying for reduction in her sentence.

In her appeal, she stated that she was a divorced poor woman and had four children, including a special daughter.

She submitted that she was a first-time offender who committed the crime for her children.

The court reduced her remaining sentence and ordered her release.