Pakistan premier orders release of women prisoners

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan's premier on Wednesday ordered to release from prisons women, who are under trial and convicted.

The announcement came following the country's Human Rights Ministry report on "Plight of Women in Pakistan's Prisons" presented to premier on Aug. 26.

"After a mtg [meeting] with @mohrpakistan, [Ministry of Human Rights] Attorney General & Barrister Ali Zafar, I have asked for immediate implementation of SC [Supreme Court] order 299/2020 for release of Under Trial women prisoners & convicted women prisoners who fulfill criteria of SC Order," Khan tweeted.

Khan also directed authorities concerned to immediately submit reports on foreign women prisoners and women on death row for humanitarian consideration.

In April, after the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the country's top court ordered to release the accused persons charged for offences under non-prohibitory clauses, vagrancy law or offences carrying less than three years sentence.

The court also approved the attorney general’s suggestions to release those persons suffering from ailments or physical or mental disability, under trial prisoners of 55 years or older and all under trial women/juvenile.

According to official figures, there are 114 jails in Pakistan which have the capacity of accommodating 57,742 prisoners, but there are 77,275 prisoners in these jails.

Among them, 25,246 are convicted prisoners, while 48,008 are under trial -- including 1,184 women -- who also have their children in jail, while 1,500 elderly prisoners above the age of 60 years are also in the jail across the country.