LAHORE, Dec 6: In response to a suo motu notice by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sayed Zahid Husain, the district & sessions judges on Saturday visited jails throughout Punjab and released 778 under-trial prisoners involved in petty offences on bail.

The instructions of the chief justice that “the jail inmates involved in petty offences be released ahead of Eidul Azha” were conveyed by telephone on Dec 6 to district and sessions judges.

The breakup of the released prisoners is Lahore 150, Jhang 19, Sialkot 34, Mianwali 12, Khanewal 12, Vehari 21, Rawalpindi 17, Nankana Sahib 11, Bahawalpur 22, Multan

27, Rahim Yar Khan 44,

Gujrat 32, Okara 13, Gujranwala 39, Chakwal 18, Hafizabad

15, Sahiwal 17, Layyah

10, Attock 27, Bahawalnagar

12, Kasur 16, Lodhran 7,

Mandi Bahauddin 6, Muzaffargarh 16, Faisalabad

64, Dera Ghazi Khan 10,

Toba Tek Singh 40, Pakpattan 15 and Sargodha 36.

The D&SJs conducted on-the-spot proceedings for release of inmates facing minor offences.

A number of prisoners was also released on bail through normal process of law.

There was no under-trail prisoner involved in cases of minor nature in Rajanpur, Khushab, Sheikhupura and Bhakkar.