LAHORE - The Lahore High Court on Friday sought report from Inspector General of Prisons about the number of prisoners who had completed their terms but were languishing in the jails of the Punjab due to non-availability of money for payment of Diyyet, Qassas and other fines.
LHC Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed observed that the governments hired hundred ministers on heavy remunerations but did not pay attentions to solve problems of the masses. The CJ suggested the governments to form a fund for the release of poor prisoners who could not pay Diyyet, Qassas and other fines.
Petitioner lawyer Muhammad Azhar Siddque had submitted that prisoners in the provincial jails were facing poor facilities as substandard food and other eatables were being given to them. He contend that many prisoners had lost their lives as health facilities for the prisoners were also very low standard and there were no sufficient arrangements for their health care.
During the course of hearing, Assistant Advocate General Wali Muhammad Khan told the court that according to the report of Prisons IG about 53,000 prisoners were in jails against the capacity of provincial jails. He also admitted the poor health facilities and substandard food for the prisoners in jails.
The court recorded arguments of both the sides and observed that all of us should try to take steps for the release of all those prisoners who had completed their terms but were languishing in jails due to non-availability of money for payment of Diyyet, Qassas and other fines.
The CJ directed the Prisons IG to submit the report within one month about the number of prisoners who had completed their terms.