SHEIKHUPURA, March 26: Nearly 16 prisoners involved in petty offences were set free from the district jail on the orders of the district and sessions judge on Friday.

The judge, Khan Talib Husain Baloch, visited the jail and reviewed the record of the prisoners. He ordered release of 16 prisoners on personal surety. Civil judge Aslam, jail superintendent Majeed Ahmad Qureshi and other officials accompanied Mr Baloch, who also inspected various barracks and listened to the grievances of the captives.

Meanwhile, some 21 other captives were also released on amnesty announced by President Pervez Musharraf.

FOUR WOMEN KILLED: Four women were killed in different parts of the district on Friday. In Muridke, a woman was shot dead by her brother over suspicion of her loose morals.

The woman allegedly had developed illicit relation with a young man of the same locality. She didn't pay heed to the repeated exhortations of her family after which her brother, Shafiq alias Kala, shot her.

An addict at Jhabran Mandi, some 25kms from here, shot dead his wife and a daughter to purchase drugs freely. Khurram Shahzad alias Papu demanded money from his wife Nasim, and on her refusal shot her. Meanwhile, his daughter Adiqa 7, tried to rescue her mother, but he also killed her and fled.

Saddar police are conducting raids to arrest the accused. Hanifan Bibi, 70, was crushed to death under the wheels of a speedy wagon on the GT Road near Muridke.