Out without bail: SC seeks report on parole of four convicts

ATC- convicted prisoners freed before completing their sentences

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) directed the provincial chief secretary on Friday to submit a report of the government-appointed three-member committee formed to probe into the release of four convicts on parole.

A full bench, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim, was hearing a suo motu case regarding the implementation of its judgment passed in the Karachi law and order case at the SC's Karachi registry. Last month, the apex court had taken notice of the release of the four prisoners, who were convicted by anti-terrorism courts for crimes such as murder and kidnapping but were freed from jail by the provincial home department on parole without serving their sentences.

The court had also personally summoned the then home secretary, Niaz Abbasi, seeking an explanation about how the home department could release the convicts who were not given bail by the superior courts.

During Friday's proceedings, Abbasi appeared before the court and filed his reply to the court's notice. However, the former secretary and prisons IG Nusrat Mangan could not satisfy the court's queries as to whether all the legal formalities and procedures were followed while deciding the cases of the four convicts. The judges expressed concern over the lack of information of the senior officers about the procedures and laws.

The chief secretary, Muhammad Siddique Memon, who was also asked to inquire into the matter, informed the court that the Sindh government had constituted an inquiry committee to probe into the matter relating to the release of the four convicts on parole.

The body, which comprises a senior member of the Board of Revenue and the additional secretaries of the administration and services-I departments of the services and generation administration department, will furnish its report upon completion of the inquiry. He added that the committee will complete its inquiry within 10 days. The full bench directed the chief secretary to file the report of the committee immediately after the completion of inquiry. After the inquiry's findings, the court will consider the reply of the former secretary, Abbasi.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2016.