Courts in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad granted bail to 1,265 prisoners facing petty crimes.
The high courts, civil courts and other subordinate courts disposed of as many applications on the last working day before Eidul Fitr. The courts reduced the sentences of those convicted of minor offences, released them and allowed them to celebrate the joys of Eid with their loved ones at home. All the bail applications filed in the courts during the last week of Ramazan were decided on merit and with compassion. Hearings were done on a daily basis.
On the last working day on April 30, all the courts heard pending bail applications to ensure the release of the accused who had been granted bail. Judicial officials kept visiting the jails to submit release warrants. Every year, during the holy month of Ramazan, courts release prisoners facing petty crime charges. Rawalpindi District Bar Secretary-General Malik Mubashir Rafaq said that bail was granted to a large number of accused this year too. He said that the released prisoners should repent of their crimes and become law-abiding citizens and live a life that will benefit them and their families
Meanwhile, a large number of people including children visited Adiala Jail on Saturday to meet their loved ones.
Read Sindh govt announces remission for 1,200 prisoners on Eid
The citizens were allowed to meet their loved ones in the jail from 8 am to 4 pm, some sitting face to face and some from behind the bars and nets.
Arif Nizam, the assistant superintendent in charge of the meeting looked helpless and failed to put in place a foolproof arrangement to facilitate visitors. Elderly people and women faced severe difficulties during their visit to the jail. The computerised meeting system also completely remained a futile exercise and it collapsed.
Jail officials also misbehaved with visitors including women and children on the jail premises throughout the day. The prison system is fully computerised but over the past week, the system has been paralysed.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2022.
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