ZUBAIR QURESHI Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah on Friday directed release on bail of under-trial prisoners facing minor charges from the overcrowded Adiala Jail as the number of prisoners there is twice its capacity and there are chances the inmates could contract coronavirus. Justice Minallah gave these directions while hearing a report on state of prisoners in Adiala Jail. The court had converted the report into an independent petition. During the hearing, the court directed the district magistrate that the inmates facing less than 7-year term or involved in minor crimes might be released on bail on personal surety bonds. The government could submit surety bonds of those who were not able to present their personal bonds, the judge further remarked. The IHC has also sought a com- pliance report on Saturday (March 21). DC Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat later said the court’s order was in accordance with the policy of the government to ‘minimize’ social contact in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. Adiala Jail is the most crowded jail that is currently housing 2,700 inmates whereas its capacity is 1,000 said the deputy commissioner. He said recently, Islamabad police arrested some 300 beggars from various markets of Islamabad and sent them to Adiala Jail. Similarly, around 200 prisoners are those who are facing minor offences like late night wanderings, drug addiction etc or bogus cheque cases of small amounts. They could be set free after case-to-case scrutinizing, he further said. However, he said, those facing offences like child rape or other heinous crimes would not be given any relief. On those who are arrested under National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws, the DC said accountability courts’ advice will be taken and in most cases, the matter lies in the provincial governments’ jurisdiction. We shall also take advice from the District & Sessions judge in certain cases, he said. In the report on the prisoners’ condition and that of Adiala Jail it has been proposed that in order to reduce the jail population, 51 accused and under-trial prisoners in jail for petty offences under the Arms Ordinance, Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd), Control of Narcotics Substances and others could be considered for release from jail on the basis of personal surety bonds.
