OUR CORRESPONDENT
MUZAFFARABAD The AJK Supreme Court has decided to set free all the prisoners serving jail terms on account of different charges from jails throughout the Azad territory. The decision has been taken by a two-judge larger bench of the apex court headed by Acting Chief Justice Mr Justice Azhar Saleem Baber. While talking to media, the Advocate representing the prisoners said that a petition had been filed on behalf of the prisoners on humanitarian grounds in the backdrop of mounting Corona Virus cases. The Bench directed the IG Police, Director Health, DIG Jails and Commisioner Muzaffarabad to carry out its orders forthwith. It also directed the authorities concerned to conduct tests on prisoners for Corona Virus, if anyone tested positive should be put in quarantine. According to the judgment, the prisoners who are undergoing prison terms for more than ten years would be released conditionally for an initial period of two months and those whose jail-term is less than ten years would be set free on provision of surety/personal bond. However, the judgment would not apply to those prisoners who have been convicted on terror charges.
