KARACHI, Aug 14: Ninety-three prisoners, including four juveniles, were released from the Central Prison and District Jail Malir on Monday evening on the directives of President Pervez Musharraf.
The president granted a special remission in sentences to prisoners on the occasion of Independence Day, prisons officials told Dawn.
Sources said that the remission had been granted under Article 45 of the constitution. The sources added that under the president’s directive, a 45-day special remission would be given to prisoners who had completed two-thirds of their sentences.
Similarly, special remissions of 45 days would be given to convicts, except those convicted of murder, espionage, subversion, anti-state activities, terrorist acts, zina, kidnapping/abduction, robbery, dacoity and those undergoing sentences under the Foreigners’ Act.
The special remission would be admissible provided the convicts have completed two-thirds of their substantive sentence of imprisonment.
Nineteen prisoners were released from the Central Prison while 76 would get the benefit from the decision later on.
Similarly, 70 prisoners were released form the District Jail Malir and 58 would benefit from the decision later on.
Four prisoners were released from the Youthful Offenders’ Industrial School, known as the juvenile jail.
The prisoners from the Special Prison for Women were, however, not released under the decision, said the deputy superintendent of the women’s prison.
Celebrations
One hundred and thirty three women prisoner were brought out of their cells for a few hours at a place in prison where celebrations for the 60th Independence Day of Pakistan were being held.
Sindh Minister for Women Development Dr Saeeda Malik was the chief guest of the occasion.
Of 133 inmates, 64 were foreigners who had been imprisoned mostly in drugs smuggling cases. Besides, there were 24 children who enjoyed the national songs that were played before the minister’s arrival.
Dressed in colourful outfits, many inmates kept weeping and listened little to what was being said by the guests. None of the media person had permission to speak to the prisoners.
In his speech, Deputy Inspector-General of Jail Karachi Col Tariq Shah announced that no foreign prisoner would stay in jail beyond her punishment on account of non-payment of fines. He said, “The ministry for women development has decided to pay Rs0.3 million for this purpose”.
On her appeal to Inspector-General of Sindh Police, one of the prisoners got a remission of 60 days in her punishment.
Dr Saeeda Malik briefed the audience about the contribution of the ministry for women development and the City District Government Karachi in different fields.
She cited the example of the Women Protection Bill and the law regarding women detainees. Under the provision, she said, no woman could be detained at any police station (except women police station) for interrogation after Magrib”. Secretary Women Development Abdul Subhan Memon also spoke on the occasion.