He said Shahbaz Sharif was brought to Landhi Jail, Karachi on November 11, 1999 in the plane hijacking case but was released later under clandestine circumstances.
He said proper record about his release is missing and the Sindh government is trying to find it. "Government will now pursue lawful procedure to investigate the matter and punish him as per law," he told a press conference held at Committee Room number II of the Sindh Assembly Building. He said the provincial government wanted to shift him back to jail through legal procedure.
To a question, he said jail authorities might have written to courts regarding his unofficial acquittal.
He desired that the Supreme Court should now take suo motu notice of the matter.
Law Minister said a total of 312 appeals of death-sentenced prisoners were pending in High Courts and Supreme Court of Pakistan and urged the apex court to process those cases speedily, “instead of taking up political cases”.
"A draft law is also proposed to the Federal Government to commute death sentences to 25 years imprisonment, however this is mere a draft and still to be finalized," he added.
Sharing district-wise appeals filed by prisoners, the Minister said appeals of 76 prisoners of Karachi Central Jails were pending in High Court and Federal Shariah Court while 26 were at Supreme Court.
Similarl,y in Hyderabad Central Jail, 108 appeals were pending with High court and 11 in SC. In Sukkur Central Jail, 72 appeals were pending in HC and seven in SC.
Six appeals of prisoners of Larkana Central Jail and an appeal of one woman prisoner were pending in High court. Of the total 312 appeals, he said, 263 appeals are in HC and 43 in SC.
Soomro said prisoners had complained that their cases were not being taken up by courts for a long time.
"We request the apex court to take up their cases and decide them once and for all," he added.
To another question, he said funds for development and renovation of jails were now being released, adding security has been enhanced at jails facing security threats.