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Punjab govt pays Rs 23 million for prisoners’ release

* Relatives protest against bribes demanded by officials for release of prisoners

Staff Report

LAHORE: No prisoner will remain in jail on Eidul Fitr this year on account of non-payment of fines, a government statement said on Monday.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered a payment of Rs 23 million for the release of 107 prisoners who were in various jails despite completion of their sentences.

According to an official handout, Punjab government has also announced a remission of five months for the prisoners on the instructions of the chief minister.

As a result, 100 prisoners will be released on Eidul Fitr while 277 more prisoners will benefit.

An amount of 31 millions rupees was required for the release of 107 prisoners who were unable to pay their monetary penalties.

Prisons inspector general and other officials had raised Rs 8 million with the help of philanthropists and NGOs, and the Punjab government is paying the remaining Rs 23 million.

Under the remission order on Eidul Fitr, 15 prisoners will be released from Central Jail Gujranwala, 15 from Sahiwal, five from Kasur, 13 from Camp Jail Lahore, three from Sheikhupura Jail, five from Sialkot Jail, one from Attock Jail, four from Faisalabad Jail, one from Mianwali Jail, 10 from District Jail Faisalabad, one from District Jail Sargodha, one from District Jail Toba Tek Singh, five from Central Jail Multan, three from Central Jail Bahawalpur, two from Central Jail DG Khan, one from District Jail Bahawalnagar, five from District Jail Multan and 10 from District Jail Rahim Yar Khan.

Protests: Meanwhile, the relatives of the prisoners whose release was sanctioned by the government protested against officials for allegedly demanding bribes for allowing the inmates leave the prison.

They protesters chanted slogans against the prison officials and burnt tyres outside Camp Jail Lahore and Central Jail Kot Lakhpat, alleging that the officials were demanding Rs 2000 each for the prisoners’ release.

The prisoners’ relatives also alleged that Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) officials re-arrested some of the men, claiming that they were wanted by the agency in various other cases, adding that the CIA officials also demanded Rs 500 each for releasing the men.

An official, on condition of anonymity, confessed that the protesters’ charges of officials demanding bribes were true.

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