The Punjab government is preparing to grant sentence reductions and early releases to elderly and female prisoners.
The proposals for these measures are finalized and will be presented to the provincial cabinet for approval before Eid-ul-Azha.
Under the proposed plan, male prisoners over 70 years of age and female prisoners over 60 years of age who have completed two-thirds of their sentences will be eligible for release.
Additionally, women prisoners with children under the age of five who have served two-thirds of their sentences will also benefit from this initiative.
Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal emphasized that these reductions and early releases would be contingent upon the prisoners demonstrating good conduct during their incarceration and completing two-thirds of their sentences.
These initiatives were highlighted during a visit to Lahore Central Jail by Home Secretary Mengal and Prisons Inspector General Mian Farooq Nazir.
Both officials met with prisoners and assessed the facilities provided to them.
Earlier, the administration of Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi has issued an apology for its inability to accommodate individuals detained under the anti-beggary law due to severe overcrowding.
In a letter addressed to the Islamabad chief commissioner, Adiala Jail Superintendent Asad Javed Warraich explained that the prison’s capacity was 2,174 inmates, but it currently housed over 7,000 accused individuals.
He highlighted the presence of a significant number of beggars in the prison, many of whom were injured, disabled, or drug-addicted. Due to space constraints, the jail administration faced considerable challenges in accommodating individuals detained under the anti-beggary law.
Warraich suggested that the completion of District Jail Islamabad should be expedited, and until then, alternative arrangements should be made for those arrested under the anti-beggary law.
Furthermore, he stated that Adiala Jail would no longer accept individuals detained under the anti-beggary law in the future.
Begging has become a prevalent profession in the country, with an estimated 25 million professional beggars in Pakistan.
