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LAHORE
The Lahore High Court on Friday was shocked at the release of 19 convicts from Sahiwal jail after a medical board declared their ages above 70 in contrary to jail record, allowing them to take advantage of a relaxation announced through a presidential order.
The court sought reply from Punjab government by January 10. This came to fore during the hearing a petition moved by a widow Shamim Ara challenging the release of two convicts Zaman and Tufail. She said a presidential order was issued in 2009-10 which paved the way for the release of prisoners who had attained the age of 70 or above and had completed one-third of their jail term.
The petitioner’s counsel told the court that the trial court had awarded life imprisonment to both Zaman and Tufail in murder case of her family member and they were detained in Sahiwal Jail. However, they had been released from jail on the recommendations of a medical board constituted to ascertain their age. She said the board had willfully given undue advantage to both prisoners because their age was much less than 70 according to their national identity cards and jail records.
Following court’s directions, Superintendent Sahiwal Jail Gulzar Butt appeared before the court and admitted that at least 20 convicts had been released from jail, 19 out of them had not yet attained the age of 70 as per their documents and record available with jail authorities but their release was done on the basis of certificates issued by the medical boards, he admitted.
The statement of the superintendent stunned the judge who observed if the same practice was continued by the medical boards, all the convicts would be released soon.
The court ordered the Punjab government to submit report and reply till January 10.
Reply sought from IGP: Justice Ali Baqar Najfi of the Lahore High Court on Friday sought reply from Inspector General of Punjab Police in a petition filed by a prisoner fearing that police could kill him in a fake encounter.
The judge also directed IGP to ensure security of the prisoner and remove apprehension of the prisoner-petitioner.
The judge issued this order on a petition filed by under trial prisoner Umar Iqbal detained in Faisalabad Jail.
Iqbal’s counsel submitted that his client was in jail and his trial was in progress. He said police had registered 17 fake cases against him from 2005-10 but courts had acquitted him in 14 cases. He alleged that police had been doing so at the behest of SP CIA Umar Virk and recently he was picked from Lahore and detained in Faisalabad jail. He said the police had again lodged a fake dacoity case against him while he was behind the bars.
He said Umar virk was a fake encounter ‘specialist’ and could kill him too. He said if prisoners in custody of the jail officials were not secure then what about common citizens.
He prayed to the court to issue directions for the police not to kill his client but instead protect his life. The judge issued a notice to IGP for January 02 and also directed him to give protection to petitioner-prisoner.
The Lahore High Court on Friday was shocked at the release of 19 convicts from Sahiwal jail after a medical board declared their ages above 70 in contrary to jail record, allowing them to take advantage of a relaxation announced through a presidential order.
The court sought reply from Punjab government by January 10. This came to fore during the hearing a petition moved by a widow Shamim Ara challenging the release of two convicts Zaman and Tufail. She said a presidential order was issued in 2009-10 which paved the way for the release of prisoners who had attained the age of 70 or above and had completed one-third of their jail term.
The petitioner’s counsel told the court that the trial court had awarded life imprisonment to both Zaman and Tufail in murder case of her family member and they were detained in Sahiwal Jail. However, they had been released from jail on the recommendations of a medical board constituted to ascertain their age. She said the board had willfully given undue advantage to both prisoners because their age was much less than 70 according to their national identity cards and jail records.
Following court’s directions, Superintendent Sahiwal Jail Gulzar Butt appeared before the court and admitted that at least 20 convicts had been released from jail, 19 out of them had not yet attained the age of 70 as per their documents and record available with jail authorities but their release was done on the basis of certificates issued by the medical boards, he admitted.
The statement of the superintendent stunned the judge who observed if the same practice was continued by the medical boards, all the convicts would be released soon.
The court ordered the Punjab government to submit report and reply till January 10.
Reply sought from IGP: Justice Ali Baqar Najfi of the Lahore High Court on Friday sought reply from Inspector General of Punjab Police in a petition filed by a prisoner fearing that police could kill him in a fake encounter.
The judge also directed IGP to ensure security of the prisoner and remove apprehension of the prisoner-petitioner.
The judge issued this order on a petition filed by under trial prisoner Umar Iqbal detained in Faisalabad Jail.
Iqbal’s counsel submitted that his client was in jail and his trial was in progress. He said police had registered 17 fake cases against him from 2005-10 but courts had acquitted him in 14 cases. He alleged that police had been doing so at the behest of SP CIA Umar Virk and recently he was picked from Lahore and detained in Faisalabad jail. He said the police had again lodged a fake dacoity case against him while he was behind the bars.
He said Umar virk was a fake encounter ‘specialist’ and could kill him too. He said if prisoners in custody of the jail officials were not secure then what about common citizens.
He prayed to the court to issue directions for the police not to kill his client but instead protect his life. The judge issued a notice to IGP for January 02 and also directed him to give protection to petitioner-prisoner.
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