Asif Ali Zardari

LAHORE: As many as 736 prisoners undergoing jail terms in various prisons of the Punjab have been freed on Wednesday while over 3,200 convicts benefited from the special remission granted by President Asif Ali Zardari to celebrate the passage of the 18th Amendment.

Additional Home Secretary Punjab Dr Jamal Nasir told APP here that a notification regarding the remission had been issued and sent to the IG, DIGs and Jail Superintendents across the province for immediate compliance.

Inspector General Prisons, Punjab, Kokab Nadeem Warraich said all DIGs and Superintendent Jails throughout the province have been directed to release all such convicts today positively who fall under the category of remission entitlement in the light the notification.

DIG Rawalpindi region, Shaukat Feroze, said a total of 215 convicts had been freed while 610 were benefited in this region, including Ahmad Riaz Sheikh, former additional director general, FIA.

Ahmad Riaz Sheikh was received by his wife Shabina Riaz Sheikh MPA, his son and daughter at the jail. Inspector General Prisons Punjab, Kokab Nadeem Warraich and DIG Rawalpindi region Shaukat Feroz while talking to APP on phone confirmed his release.

Senior Superintendent Central Jail Kot Lakhpat, Lahore, Malik Mushtaq Ahmad said that 58 prisoners were released while jail term of 408 convicts was reduced accordingly. Superintendent Camp Jail, Lahore, Gulzar Ahamd Butt said 36 convicts had been sent to home while 89 benefitted.

DIG Lahore region,Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig, and DIG Faisalabad region, Malik Mubasshar Ahmad Khan, said all entitled convicts would definitely be released till midnight. Superintendent Adiala Jail Saeedullah Gondal said on the orders of President Zardari around 167 prisoners are being released from Adiala Jail.

He said that a total of 664 prisoners would also benefit from the order, adding that the Home Department Punjab has issued the notification for releasing the prisoners. Earlier, Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday said that the Punjab government would follow the orders given by the president regarding remission in sentences of prisoners.

He stated this while addressing a press conference here at DGPR office. He said that 736 prisoners in the province would be released immediately while in total 3,238 would be benefited under the order.

The provincial minister said that the Punjab government believed in rule of law. Meanwhile, a petition was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday against the Punjab government for non-implementation of presidential order regarding remission in sentences of convicted prisoners.

Petitioner Muhammad Azhar Siddique Advocate submitted that the president under Article 45 of the Constitution granted special remission on the occasion of passing of 18th Amendment Bill by the National Assembly.

He further submitted that the Punjab government had not complied with the order. He added that violation of the presidential order comes under sedition which was a cognizable offence. The petitioner prayed to the court to order release of all the prisoners, illegally detained in jails of Punjab, after remission by the president.

He further prayed the court to order initiation of proceedings under Section 124-A of penal code against respondents including Chief Secretary of Punjab, Home Secretary and others, who were involved in non-implementation of the presidential order.