According to prison officials, several of Gujranwala’s courts accepted bails from 400 people arrested for minor crimes in the district. “Most of these criminals are first time offenders charged with petty theft and assault. They have been let go on the Punjab government’s directives,” said jail superintendent Malik Asadullah.
Jail officials said that over 600 family members were seen gathering outside different jails in the district before the release of the prisoners on Sunday.
“This is truly the best Eid present we could look forward to.
My children have been waiting for their father’s release for months and now he is being released,” said Shareefan Bibi, who was waiting for her husband Faiz, who had been arrested for petty theft nine months ago.
Jail officials said that they had informed the prisoners of their release a week ago. “The men were asked to inform their families and were told of their release a week in advance.
We took a month to finalise the lists of the prisoners who would be let go,” Bandial Shah told reporters.
“I am extremely grateful to the president for announcing the release of prisoners and am happy to be joining my family on Eid,” said Musab Kamal, a theft accused.
Jail superintendent Malik Ziauddin said the release of the prisoners would continue until 2 am on Sunday. “Some of the prisoners and their families will be catching buses to neighbouring districts because they were arrested from different areas and shifted here,” said Shah.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2011.
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