ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday converted appeals of 408 under-trial prisoners into bail petitions and issued notices to director general of the Anti-Narcotics Force and the Inspector General of Islamabad police and fixed them for hearing on Tuesday.

Fearing the possibility of outbreak of cases of coronavirus infection among them, the under-trial prisoners detained in the overcrowded Rawalpindi Central Jail, Adiala, appealed to the Islamabad High Court to grant them bail to save them from catching coronavirus infection.

The IHC was requested in a report of the additional registrar of the court that in order to minimise the number of prisoners in the jail, the convicts who had served 2/3rd of their sentence, prisoners above 50 years of age, juvenile and female prisoners may also be released.

The IHC Chief Justice, Athar Minallah, asked the DG of ANF and the IG of Islamabad police to depute their representatives to assist the court in the matter. Besides, the court also issued notice to the deputy commissioner of Islamabad, Hamza Shafqat.

IHC Chief Justice Minallah took the action on the report submitted to him by additional registrar (judicial) of the court that cautioned the court of the possibility of outbreak of coronavirus in inmates of the jail.

The report cited a list forwarded to the court registrar by the superintendent of jail, Rawalpindi, in which 408 under-trial prisoners appealed for grant of bail in cases falling under the ambit of prohibitory clause contained in Section 497 CrPC. With regard to convicted prisoners, the additional registrar suggested that all those convicts (excluding those involved in anti-state activities or terrorism cases) who had served 2/3rd of their substantive sentences may be released from prison, on parole, as provided in the good conduct Prisoners of Probation Release Act, 1926.

Likewise, the report had suggested that the convicts who were over 50 years of age and infirm by health or confined simply for non-payment of fine/compensation, juvenile offenders and female accused/convicts may also be considered for release.

The IHC Chief Justice, after submission of the report, summoned representatives of the ANF, police, district administration and directed the registrar’s office to communicate with them about Tuesday’s hearing of the case through telephones or through other means.

The court advised officials appearing in the court on Tuesday to observe precautionary measures pertaining to the policy of social distancing announced by the government.

The IHC registrar’s office, in order to ensure social-distancing policy, has cancelled routine cases which were fixed for hearing from March 24. Only cases of urgent nature and bail applications will be heard by the IHC.

Meanwhile, the IHC administration issued a circular, ordering closure of official mosque in the IHC till further orders.

The administration has asked the staff of the court to offer daily prayers keeping social distancing policy of the government in mind.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2020