Two Eids in a row: Sindh prisoners left hanging as govt fails to announce remissions again

It is traditional for the president to announce reductions in sentences on special occasions

KARACHI: Sindh prisoners were left hanging once again as the government failed to announce any sentence reductions for them this Eid.

The government had failed to announce any remissions on Eidul Fitr but did make an announcement on Independence Day. Until Saturday evening, which was the last working day before Eid, there was no announcement by President Mamnoon Hussain.



The office of the president traditionally makes these announcements on special occasions. The Sindh chief Minister, Qaim Ali Shah, who also has the authority to grant remission, had not issued any orders.

"There was no remission announced by the government on the previous Eid either," said Karachi Central Jail senior superintendent Kazi Nazeer Ahmed. "So far, there has been no order for this Eid."

On this year's Independence Day, remission was announced by the president with a special condition that could benefit only a handful of prisoners. "Prisoners were granted remission on August 14 but only eight managed to get benefits as the reduction was only for those prisoners who had completed two thirds of their sentences," said Ahmed.

The special remission on Eid is granted for 90 days to those sentenced for life imprisonment. Those accused of heinous crimes, such as murder, robbery, anti-state activities, kidnapping and others, are excluded. A special remission of 45 days is awarded to all prisoners except those who are condemned and those who are involved in heinous crimes.

Visitors at the jail

Since families are not allowed to meet their loved ones imprisoned in the jail on Eid day, several families made their way to the Karachi prison on Saturday. Several families turned up to wish Eid Mubarak in advance and give new clothes to their relatives.

Mureed Abbas, the mulaqaat [meeting] in-charge said that more than 2,000 people visited the Karachi Central Jail on Saturday. "Last time, the prisoners were allowed to meet their families but this time it has not been allowed by the authorities as Eid holidays are gazetted holidays," he said.

However, the officials said that they have an alternate for the inmates to speak to their families. "All the prisoners would be allowed to use the public call offices in the prison."

Eid preparation

A total of six animals will be slaughtered on Eid for the prisoners, said the jail officials. "Six cows will be brought here and slaughtered nearby but not inside the jail," said Ahmed.

The animals are donated by a philanthropist who does not want to be named, he said. "Prisoners are not allowed to carry out the sacrifice inside the jail and cannot keep the animals," Ahmed explained. "Their families or relatives do it on their behalf." The meat of the sacrificial animals will be used to provide food twice a day for the prisoners as they will be treated with twice the quantity of food they usually get. In the morning after the Eid prayers, the inmates will also be served ‘sewaiyyan’ (vermicelli) or halwa.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2014.