Prisoners get remission in sentences

ISLAMABAD: To celebrate the passing of the 18th amendment bill, President Asif Ali Zardari has announced a significant remission in the terms of all prisoners across the country.

According to presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Baber, the president took the decision on the advice of Prime Minister Yousaf under section 45 of the constitution. Women above the age of 60 and men above the age of 65 having served more than one third of their sentence are to be set free. However, he said that this remission will not apply to those convicted of heinous crimes like murder, kidnapping, anti state activities, terrorism and dacoity.

While signing the summary for remission in sentences, Zardari said that “the decision has been taken to mark the passing of the 18th amendment bill.”

Separately, President Zardari said that Pakistan has paid a heavy price in the war against terrorism and now the responsibility lies on the international community to help Islamabad meet its challenges. Speaking at a dinner hosted in honour of ambassadors of various countries in Islamabad on Friday, the president said that Pakistan has suffered losses of Rs 35 billion in the war against terrorism, urging the US and EU countries to provide greater market access to Pakistan instead of extending aid.

President Zardari pointed out that the economic recession also badly affected Pakistan’s economy otherwise the situation would have been different. “The government is striving to overcome the energy crisis,” he said.