HARIPUR, Feb 29: Four prisoners who spent over a decade behind the bars because of nonpayment of Diyat (compensation for murder under Shariat law) got released after the provincial government paid their fine here on Friday.

Official sources told Dawn that there were eight prisoners who had been undergoing jail sentence for nonpayment of Diyat for the last over a decade. However, on the recommendation of Senior Superintendent Malik Fakhr-e-Aalam Khan, the Inspector General Prisons, NWFP Fazal-ur-Rehman Khan took up the case with the provincial government for payment of Diyat.

The provincial government, sources told had paid the Diyat of four persons a few months ago, while the remaining four secured their release on Friday.

Sources told that Muhammad Kamal son of Taj Fraz of Alpuri, Shangla was convicted by a Qazi Court on 20th March, 1996 and was asked to pay Rs240,000 as Diyat. But his family was unable to arrange the amount and he remained behind bars for almost 12 years.

Similarly, Purdil son of Taj Malook of Mangloor, Swat was handed down Diyat of Rs120,000 by a Qazi Court in August 1996, but he could not be released as there was no one to pay the amount for securing his release.

Omar Saeed son of Gul Majeed of Lond Khor, Takhtbai was convicted by special court, Takhtbai for murder. The court awarded him 14 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs150,000 as Diyat. He completed his sentence in the last week of June 2001, but could not be released because of default in amount of Diyat.

Special Court, Takhtbai awarded 10 years imprisonment and Rs250,000 as Diyat to Fazal Dayyan son of Maira Jan of Fazal Abad, Takhtbai under murder charges in March 1998. He completed his jail term in the first week of September 2003, but had to remain incarcerated till February 29, 2008 as he could not pay the amount.

When contacted the jail superintendent Malik Fakhr-e-Aalam Khan confirmed that his office had received the amount from the provincial government and the payment was being made to the court concerned.

According to Shariat law, Diyat may be made payable in lump sum or installments spread over a period of three years from the date of the final judgment. And if a convict fails to pay Diyat or any part thereof within the specified period, the convict may be kept in jail and dealt within the same manner as if sentenced to simple imprisonment until the Diyat is paid in full or may be released on bail if he furnishes security equivalent to the amount of Diyat to the satisfaction of the court.