PM orders to release women inmates in line with SC direction  

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered the authorities to implement on Supreme Court’s orders issued in April and free under trial and convicted women prisoners who fulfill the criteria.

On a social media website Twitter, the premier said that he had issued the directions after a meeting with the Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari, the attorney general and Barrister Ali Zafar.

“I have asked for immediate implementation of SC order 299/2020 for release of under-trial women prisoners and convicted women prisoners who fulfill criteria of SC order,” he added. PM Imran also asked for “immediate reports on foreign women prisoners and women on death row for humanitarian consideration”.

I have also asked for immediate reports on foreign women prisoners & women on death row for humanitarian consideration.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 2, 2020

Meanwhile, Human Rights Minister Mazari hailed PM’s decision, calling it a “great move forward for human rights and humanitarian approach to prisoners”.

Mazari further said that PM Imran has also asked the ministry to provide him with “a complete timeline on prison reforms implementation”.

“This is just the start. PM has asked for a complete timeline on prison reforms implementation — our report on prison reforms is ready & now going to prepare implementation timelines with Barrister Ali Zafar,” she added.

A great move forward for human rights & humanitarian approach to prisoners. This is just the start. PM has asked for a complete timeline on prison reforms implementation – our Report on prison reforms is ready & now going to prepare implementation timelines with Barr Ali Zafar https://t.co/mY9GmNSI9X

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) September 2, 2020

In April, the apex court had directed the government to release the following: Prisoners suffering from a physical or mental illness. Under-trial prisoners who are 55 or older.

Male under-trial prisoners who have not been convicted in the past. Female and juvenile prisoners.

According to a report, there are at least 2,000 female prisoners in Pakistan. Of those, 1,225 are juveniles and 33 are on death row, representing less than one percent of all death row inmates.

Most female inmates belong to lower socio-economic backgrounds, unable to pay for private representation and mostly illiterate, hindering their ability to advocate on their own behalf.