In the province of Punjab released 4815 prisoners/convicts on probation during the last three months of this year, 12541 in 2009 and 4914 in 2008. The number of convicts/prisoners released on parole by the Government of Punjab in the year 2008 are 69 and 51 in the year 2009 and 5 prisoners during the last 3 months of current year.
The Sindh government released 41 good conduct prisoners/convicts were released on parole in the year 2008, 59 in the year 2009, 572 offenders were placed on probation in the year 2009 and 249 released on probation in the last 3 months of current year on probation.
The Government of Balochistan has released 14 prisoners on probation during the year 2008 and 23 in the year 2009 and 6 prisoners during the last 3 months of current year. Further the Government of Balochistan has released 70 good conduct prisoners on parole in the year 2009.
The Government of NWFP has released 3 good conduct prisoners on parole in the year 2008 and 1 in the year 2009. Further, the Government of NWFP has placed on probation 1241 prisoners/offenders in the year 2008 and 1063 in the year 2009 and during the last 3 months of current year 321 offenders were released on probation. This was informed was placed before a committee held here under the chairmanship registrar Supreme Court Faqir Hussain.
The meeting attended by registrars of the provincial high courts, provincial home secretaries and Directors, reclamation and probation of provincial departments considered the various agenda items including the information with regard to the number and details of prisoners/convicts released on parole/probation in the province during the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December and 01. January 2009 to 30 November 2009 under probation/parole laws.
The Chairman expressed satisfaction over the trend of gradual increase in the number of convicts released on parole as well as under-trial prisoners released on probation. However, added that the process needs to be expedited so that the cases of parole and probation are timely processes and good conduct prisoners as well as under trial prisoners are released.
It was informed that the District Criminal Justice Co-ordination Committee has been constituted in each District of the four provinces headed by the District and Sessions Judge and met regularly on monthly basis to constantly review the operation of criminal justice system. The Committee expressed satisfaction over the performance of District Criminal Justice' Co-ordination Committee because it has helped, to expedite the trial proceedings.
The Committee further resolved to recommend the inclusion of Presidents of District Bar Association as well as Tehsil Bar Associations in the said Committee as observers because the lawyers are also stakeholders and could play effective role in the expeditious disposal of cases.
The Committee has also considered the proposed amendments in the Probation of Offenders Ordinance, 1960, the Probation of Offenders Rules, 1961 and the Good Conduct Probational Release Act, 1926 and decided that further consideration on these law would be taken on receipt of feedback from the provincial home departments.
The Committee has also considered the release/deportation of foreign convicts who have already served their term of sentence. It was emphasised that as soon as the offenders who have foreign nationality-have been brought before the trial court, the concerned Government may be informed about such prisoners as soon as the conviction period is completed. The same government may be immediately approached-for repatriation, of these foreign convicts to the country of origin.
The Committee decided that the Provincial Governments will timely take up the matter with the Ministry of Interior to set in motion the process of repatriation of the foreign prisoners when they complete their term of sentence. It was observed that most of the foreign prisoners had lost their documents and thus the representatives of their country did not accept them as their national. This creates hindrance in their release even though after completion of their term of sentence.
The Committee further considered the capacity building of Provincial Directorates of Reclamation and Probation and other possible options to overcome the shortage of probation officers and resolved that the provincial government would be approached by the respective departments for increasing the capacity of the Provincial Directorates of Reclamation and Probation in term of human resources, building infrastructure and provide adequate equipment for smooth discharge of their functions. It was also resolved that the pay and allowances of the staff working in the Provincial Directorate may be suitably enhanced as per enhancement of salary and allowances made by the Government-of Punjab.