IHC order to release prisoners is not according to law: CJP Gulzar

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Hearing on the appeal to release prisoners over coronavirus, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order to release prisoners is not according to the law. During the hearing of appeal against the release of prisoners due to coronavirus in the Supreme Court (SC), the chief justice inquired that under which rule the suspects and the culprits can be let out. “First of all, we have to review the high court’s ambit,” he remarked. “A royal verdict was also issued by some king in the Sindh High Court (SHC). It cannot happen that someone gives orders thinking of himself as a monarch,” Justice Gulzar said. “How can culprits be freed in such a situation when police are busy in dealing with emergency situation of coronavirus? Dacoities have started in Karachi after the bails of suspects.” He further questioned that how made the lists of prisoners who are being released from the prison, stating that they set free their relatives. During the proceedings, Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the SHC ordered to release prisoners on March 26 and the list has been prepared on the same day. “It seems that this list was prepared before the order,” he said. Earlier, the IHC has granted bail to 408 prisoners imprisoned at Adiala Jail under minor offences due to coronavirus outbreak. Chief Justice Athar Minallah approved bail petitions of the prisoners. The bench also constituted a committee to materialize the release of 408 prisoners on bail. During the hearing, the court remarked that if the prisoners could not satisfy the committee , they would not be freed. The committee included Director General Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), deputy commissioner, I.G. Police and other concerned officials. Earlier, the district administration in Islamabad had decided to release prisoners jailed over minor crimes amid fears of coronavirus outbreak in overcrowded jails.