Punjab govt announces new criteria for pardoning prisoners

LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department has introduced new rules and regulations for pardoning prisoners, outlining five key conditions: hard work, good character, education, blood donation, and special amnesty.

According to these rules, prisoners who demonstrate good character and complete one year of imprisonment with hard labor will be eligible for a 15-day remission. After three years, they will receive an additional 30-day waiver.

The new regulations also provide incentives for prisoners who pursue education while incarcerated. Those who obtain Matric, Inter, BA, or MA degrees will receive a remission of six to 10 months.

Additionally, prisoners who complete Quran memorization and translation will be eligible for a pardon of six months to two years. Prisoners who participate in electrician and technical courses will receive a one-month remission.

The process for granting pardons has also been streamlined. Jail superintendents will forward pardon cases within seven days, while DIG jails will review them within three days after examination results.

The IG jails will issue notifications of remission in the second decade of every month and submit a certificate to the Home Department to ensure no cases remain pending.

It’s worth noting that presidential pardons supersede all laws under Article 45 of the Constitution. Furthermore, prisoners with sentences exceeding five years can donate blood up to four times, earning a 30-day amnesty each time.

However, convicted persons involved in terrorism, sabotage, and anti-state activities are ineligible for these pardons.