SHC frees 829 inmates over coronavirus scare

KARACHI: Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh ordered the release of 829 under-trial prisoners on Thursday. 

Inmates who were serving time over minor offenses were allowed to be set free, according to the orders.

According to the notification issued, cases of the people released are underway.

Separately, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah asked the home department to work out details of total inmates so that they could be given relief keeping in view severity of their crime, health and financial conditions.

He took this decision on Thursday while presiding over a meeting of Home department. The chief minister said that the list available with him showed that there were 16,000 prisoners in jails across the province. “I want you to prepare lists of all the prisoners and divide them in different categories,” he said and added there should be category of under-trial and convicted prisoners.

In the under-trial prisoners’ list there should be a category of prisoners facing heinous criminal and minor charges. A separate list of elderly and sick prisoners may also be made so that their cases could be considered accordingly.

He also asked the home department to furnish a separate list of the prisoners who have completed their punishments or jail term but have no money to pay the fine/penalty imposed on them.

A list of the prisoners who have been granted bail but have no money or property to file surety amount must also be prepared, he said. “The provincial government would pay their fine and make arrangement for their surety,” said the chief minister.

He has also asked the home department to prepare separate lists of the women prisoners, children, foreigners so that they may also be given some relief keeping in view the severity of their crime.