Prisoners’ release: Interior Ministry official summoned

Interior Ministry accused of not releasing all foreign prisoners who have served their jail terms.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the Interior Ministry to send an officer, not below grade 19, to the court on June 20 to explain its failure to release 74 foreign prisoners from various jails in the Punjab despite completion of their jail term.

Justice Yawar Ali is hearing a contempt of court petition filed by Advocate Awais Sheikh against the Interior Ministry accusing it of not complying with court orders directing it to release all foreign prisoners who have served their jail terms. Advocate Sheikh said that despite a lapse of six months, court orders had not been implemented. He said the prisoners were now confined unlawfully. During a previous hearing, a Foreign Ministry official had informed the court that a letter had been written to the Interior Ministry in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2012.