PM orders release of women in jail on flimsy grounds Syed Irfan RazaUpdated 03 Sep 2020

 

ISLAMABAD: In light of the Supreme Court’s (SC) orders, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday directed the relevant authorities to make arrangements for the early release of female prisoners — both under-trial and convicted.

According to the Prime Minister Office (PMO), Mr Khan announced the decision at a meeting and later in his tweets.

A source in the PMO told Dawn that it was brought to the notice of the prime minister that a large number of women prisoners were facing imprisonment only because they were unable to pay petty fines.

The prime minister vowed that the government would bear all expenses for the release of women prisoners whose remaining sentence was less than three years and they were serving imprisonment due to non-payment of petty fines, the source added.

Says decision is in light of SC ruling, asks authorities to arrange funds to pay fines

The prime minister directed the provinces and other authorities to generate funds through Baitul Mal and social welfare departments to pay fines of the women prisoners so that they could be released immediately.

In his tweets, Prime Minister Khan said he had issued the directions after a meeting with Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari, the attorney general and Barrister Ali Zafar.

“I have asked for immediate implementation of SC order 299/2020 for release of under-trial women prisoners and convicted women prisoners who fulfill criteria of SC order,” he tweeted.

He also asked for “immediate reports on foreign women prisoners and women on death row for humanitarian consideration”.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari hailed the prime minister’s decision, calling it a “great move forward for human rights and humanitarian approach to prisoners”.

She further said Prime Minister Khan had also asked the ministry to provide him “a complete timeline on prison reforms implementation”.

In her tweet, she said: “This is just the start. PM has asked for a complete timeline on prison reforms implementation — our report on prison reforms is ready & now going to prepare implementation timelines with Barrister Ali Zafar.”