SHC seeks information of prisoners confined due to non-payment of fines

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed home department, IG prisons to submit a break-up of convicts and prisoners confined to the prisons due to non-payment of compensation or fines. The direction came on a petition by Shahab Usto seeking release of prisoners, confined due to non-payment of fine, Diyat, Arsh or Daman despite completion of their sentences.

The petitioner submitted that poor convicts are languishing in different prisons of the province though they have completed their sentences and federal and provincial government have failed to either provide financial assistance or soft loans to them under the Diyat, Daman and Arsh fund rules 2007. He submitted that federal government had placed such funds under the administrative control of the ministry of law, justice and human rights. Furthermore, he pleaded that in terms of Rule 5 of Diyat, Daman and Arsh Fund rules, committees empowered the provincial sub-committee to be chaired by the home secretaries and having a member of federal government for the disposal of business.

The petitioner submitted that under the rules the State Bank is also obliged to instruct scheduled banks and Islamic banks to help the convicts. He said despite the mechanism, the federal and provincial governments have failed to rescue of the poor convicts.

The court directed home department, IG prisons to submit a complete break up of the convicts and prisoners confined in the prisons for non-payment of Diyat, Arsh or Daman despite completion of their sentences.