Two hundred and seven prisoners were released from the Lahore Camp Jail on Saturday on the directives of Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry on a special pardon to prisoners involved in minor offences. A general remission of three months was also granted to the inmates about to complete their jail terms. LHC Member Inspection Team (MIT) Sardar Ahmed Naeem, accompanied by two additional MITs Khaqan Babar and Ashtar Abbas and Lahore District and Session Judge (D&SJ) Mujahid Mustaqim, visited the jail on Saturday and passed the release orders. Punjab Prisons inspector general and Camp Jail superintendent were present at the occasion.
The released included 175 prisoners involved in minor offences, granted special reversal in sentence by the LHC MIT while 32 others were allowed three months’ remission on the verge of completion of their jail terms. The prisoners left the jail in the presence of the officials who advised them not to indulge in criminal activities in the future. About 70 inmates housed in other jails will also benefit from the three-month remission.
Later, the LHC officials inspected the jail’s kitchen, hospital, barracks and the meeting shed. They were satisfied by the cleanliness arrangements and quality and quantity of food for the inmates. The jail doctors informed the LHC officials that about 500 prisoners were checked and medicated at the hospital daily. Laboratory, X-Rays, ultrasound and ECG facilities were also available for the inmates, said the doctors.
The jail authorities said that a Release Educational and Vocational Centre (REVC) was established at the jail with the support and collaboration of a non-governmental organisation and was proving fruitful. In the end, the delegation visited the barrack of prisoners involved in narcotics cases and found the overall arrangements satisfactory.
