Courts grant bails to delinquents ahead of Eid

Uphold tradition of judicial clemency, allowing jail inmates to celebrate with family

RAWALPINDI:

As Eidul Azha approaches, 203 inmates of Adiala Jail, who have been accused in various cases, have filed bail applications in anticipation of the principle of judicial "clemency" which is expected around the time of Eid.

So far, 111 accused have filed applications in the Sessions Civil Magistrate and Special Courts, as well as the Islamabad High Court. These applications are being heard on a daily basis by the respective courts. In the last two days, a total of 39 accused have been granted bail. The hearings will continue until Saturday, June 15.

Courts are granting bail by following a swift and efficient process, and issuing release orders on the same day, without any delay. The efforts to clear the backlog of bail applications are not limited to Rawalpindi, as Additional Sessions, Civil Judges, and Magistrates from other tehsils in the district, including Murree, Kotli Sattian, Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, Gujjar Khan and Taxila, have also started hearing bail applications on a daily basis.

In compliance with the High Court's orders, the court staff responsible for processing the release orders of accused inmates in Adiala Jail are required to remain on duty until 7pm each day till Saturday, June 15, which will be the last working day before Eidul Azha.

Rawalpindi District and Sessions Judge and Islamabad District and Sessions Judge will visit Adiala Jail on Friday to grant personal bail to those accused who were arrested for minor offences. As a result of the President's decision to grant clemency in consideration of the spirit of Eidul Azha, the incarcerated individuals will be set free on Saturday evening, June 15th to celeberate the festival with their loved ones.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2024.