Prisoners languishing beyond jail terms freed

ZARANJ (Pajhwok): A number of prisoners, including insurgents, were released on Saturday from the central jail in southwestern Nimroz province in compliance with a special presidential decree, an official said.

Attaullah Fikri, the prison in charge, said the freed prisoners had been convicted of robberies, murders and insurgent activities.

He said the inmates had been languishing in the jail beyond the expiry of their jail terms. They were set free in compliance with special orders from President Ashraf Ghani, he said.

The decree cut short by four to 10 months the sentences of another 25 prisoners, Fikri said.

He said cases of the free prisoners had been subjudice in the Supreme Court and therefore they couldn’t release them in-time.

The freed individuals said they had a tough time in the prison because its congested cells environment was not suitable for living.

Police Chief Col. Rahmatullah Nasari said land for the construction of a new prison had been acquired and the government had been asked to release funds. 

Recently, prisoners in Kabul, Herat, Jawzjan and Bamyan had been on hunger strikes, demanding a review of their cases.

nh/ma