Premature release: SHC seeks comments on plea for release of aged inmates

Orders provincial prosecutor-general to explain if there is legal provision to set them free

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the provincial prosecutor-general to file comments explaining whether or not there is any legal provision to release aged inmates from the prison.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, directed the top provincial government prosecutor to file comments on a date to be notified later by the office. The bench passed this direction while hearing a petition seeking premature release of aged prisoners from the jails across the province.

The petitioner, Dr Faaiz Ali Syed, had approached the court to seek direction for the provincial home and prison authorities to set the prisoners free. He named the provincial home secretary, the inspector-general of prisons and superintendent of the Karachi Central Jail as respondents.



The petitioner, who appeared in person, informed the judges that there were several inmates, including aged prisoners, languishing in jails across the province. He argued that such prisoners were entitled to be released under the provisions of the Pakistan Prison Rules.

The rules empower the provincial home secretary and the inspector-general prisons to release the inmates from the jails, he contended. Therefore, he pleaded the court to order the home secretary, the inspector-general of prisons and Karachi central prison's chief to release all such prisoners in accordance with the prison rules.

During Monday's proceedings, the prosecutor-general received a copy of the petition and requested for time to file comments. Allowing the request, the bench directed him to submit comments by the next date of hearing, which will later be notified by the office.