Sentences of petty criminals commuted

Judges urge philanthropists to help pay bail bonds of poor prisoners

RAWALPINDI:

Members of judiciary on a routine round to review the condition of inmates in Adyala Jail approved release of 14 prisoners convicted of minor crimes by commuting their sentences.

Rawalpindi District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Muhammad Tariq Javed and Civil Judge Yasir Mahmood visited Adyala Jail on Monday. The district and sessions judge ordered to release 14 convicts serving sentences for minor crimes on personal bonds.

The released convicts had served most of the jail term and had presented good behaviour at the correctional facility. Adyala Jail officials said that the judges visited female and juvenile wards as well as the jail hospital. They also checked the prison’s kitchen and the quality of food being served to the inmates. Adyala Jail Superintendent Chaudhry Asghar Ali briefed the judges about the juvenile prisoners. He told that with the help of philanthropists, the prisoners were given warm blankets and clothing, and equipment such as soaps, tooth brushes and paste, safety razors and such to maintain hygiene.

The superintendent informed the judges that there were many suspects who had acquired bail from the court but could not get out of jail because they could not afford to pay the bail bond fee. Judge Tariq Javed asked the jail official to contact philanthropists to arrange funds for the juvenile suspects whose bails have been approved but they were unable to pay for the bail bonds.