AGP seeks details of prisoners incarcerated across the country

AGP also asks for the number of UTPs convicted by courts in different categories

Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan on Tuesday sought details of prisoners and wrote to all provincial home departments and jail authorities to provide details.

The letter written by AGP Khan states the issue relates to overcrowding in prisons with particular reference to the outbreak of coronavirus in Pakistan.

He added in the letter that in order to assist the Supreme Court (SC), the relevant authorities are requested to provide the names of jails and their capacity and the total number of prisoners incarcerated in each correctional facility.

The attorney general also asked the number of under-trial prisoners (UTPs) convicted by courts in different categories.

The categories are:

(a) accused/convicted of violent crimes particularly against women and children.

(b) accused/convicted of non-prohibitory offences.

(c) accused/ convicted of offences carrying conviction of fewer than 3 years and offences carrying a sentence of 3 to 7 years and 7 years or more.

(d) accused/convicted of terrorism/ATA cases.

(e) accused/convicted of Narcotics related offence.

(f) accused/ convicted of money laundering including NAB related offences.

Earlier, the apex court stopped the high courts and the provincial governments from passing any order for the release of UTPs amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country.