They are Amna Mohammad Azam, Hajira Abdul Shakoor, Shamsa Khaliq Ahmad, Rani Mohammad Akram, Komal Fahim, Shakila Mohammad Samad, Hayata Sabir Ali, Kaneez Fatima Nadeem, Shabana Mohammad Hashim, Fauzia Javed and Nazeera Mohammad Nawaz.
One of them, Shamsa Khaliq, is suffering from cardiac ailment and is admitted to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.
Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui and Sindh Women Development Minister Dr Saeeda Malik came to the women jail and congratulated these prisoners.
Women jail chief Sheeba Shah told Dawn that Amna, Hajira, Rani, Fauzia and Nazeera were being tried for zina under Hudood Ordinance, while Komal was facing assault charge. Shakila and Hayata were under trial for theft, Shabana for murder and Kaneez was being tried under section 420.
The jail chief said these women had been granted bail by court on personal bond. She said that the courts had also granted bail to 21 other women prisoners but they were not being released for want of surety amount. She hoped that they would be freed in a few days as the amount had now been deposited with the courts concerned. She said that Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui had given Rs1 million and philanthropists arranged another half-a-million for the purpose.
In all, 79 women prisoners, one of them a foreigner, are expected to get relief from the new ordinance, she added.
Meanwhile, Additional IG (Jails) Anwer Yahya, speaking on the occasion of the release of the first batch of women prisoners, said that there were 167 female prisoners languishing in Karachi Hyderabad, Larkana and Sukkur jails, agencies add.
He said 126 of them would benefit from the new ordinance. He said that 17 children under six year of age also lived with their under-trial mothers.
Giving a break-up, he said 98 women were in Karachi jail, 35 in Hyderabad jail, 14 in Larkana jail and 26 in Sukkur jail.
Among those benefited from the ordinance, 80 women were from Karachi, 30 from Hyderabad, six from Larkana and 10 from Sukkur.
Mr Anwer said that from Karachi jail, 40 more women would be freed soon as their cases were in the process of bail.
Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui said the jail authorities informed him that a final list of 126 women to be released soon on bail had been prepared.
“In future, women would not be allowed to be kept in jail after their arrest. They will have the right to seek bail,” he told reporters.
Saeeda Malik presented a Ajrak and a copy of the Holy Quran to each of the released women, and announced that they would be imparted vocational training.
Justice (r) Zahid Nasir also spoke on the occasion.
REVOLVING FUND: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has constituted a revolving fund with a seed money of Rs20 million for arranging bail money for the release of women prisoners in Sindh.
He has taken the initiative in the light of the promulgation of the president ordinance under which under-trial women, not involved in murder or terrorism, are being released on bail.
A handout issued here on Thursday said the chief minister has also constituted a committee which would examine and consider cases of all women prisoners with a view to get them released on bail.
This was stated to be also in pursuance of the Supreme Court’s desire for an arrangement under which women prisoners could be released if they had completed their jail term but had to remain in prison for failing to pay off the fine money.
It has been decided by the provincial government that all Sindh-based women prisoners who have completed their sentences but are still in custody due to non-payment of fine, not exceeding Rs50,000 per prisoner, imposed by the courts will be assisted by the government.
The Sindh Women Development Department has been directed to support such needy women prisoners. For the very purpose, the chief minister has constituted the committee, comprising Secretary Women Development, Chairman CPLC, IGP, representatives of Law, Home and Social Welfare departments (not below the rank of additional secretary), besides three representatives of leading NGOs working for women cause.The terms-of-reference for the committee will be to decide the cases by helping women avail the facilities related to the revolving fund.
Meanwhile, the Sindh Home Department, in compliance with the orders of the chief justice of the Supreme Court is making all out efforts to help women prisoners of foreign origin who are waiting for the assistance that could enable them return home on completion of their jail terms.
A spokesman for the Home Department said that two such women prisoners, Obey Elizabeth Ugachl and Denrele Blilogon, were being assisted in getting travel documents completed.