Eidi for the jailed: President Zardari grants special remission in sentences to prisoners

The Express Tribune

President Asif Ali Zardari, on the advice of the Prime Minister, has granted a special remission in sentences to convicts of different categories on the occasion of forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr 2013. A special remission of 90 days has been granted to prisoners sentenced to life in prison, except to those prisoners convicted for heinous crimes including murder, espionage and anti-state activities, sectarianism, rape, robbery, abduction and terror acts. A special remission for 45 days has also been granted to all other convicts except condemned prisoners and those convicted of heinous crimes and those undergoing sentences under the Foreigners Act 1946. The remissions will be applicable on only those prisoners who have served two-thirds of their substantive sentences. Total remission has been granted to male prisoners who are 65 years of age or above and female prisoners who are 60 years of age or above who have undergone at least a third of their substantive sentence of imprisonment, except those involved in culpable homicide and those involved in terror acts. A special remission of one year has also been allowed for female prisoners who have accompanying children and are serving sentences for crimes other than culpable homicide and terrorism. Juvenile convicts who have served a third of their substantive sentence can enjoy total remission if they were not involved in culpable homicide, terrorist act, rape, robbery, dacoity, kidnapping or abduction or anti-state activities.