Lists being prepared to release caged Women in Pakistan
'Pakistan Times' National News Desk

ISLAMABAD: The authorities of Women Jails in Pakistan are preparing lists to facilitate release of the women detained in minor crimes after the President promulgated an ordinance to allow bail for women.

The changed law allows bail for women held on various charges, including violation of Hudood laws.

Around 1,300 female prisoners are being freed immediately out of more than 6,000 jailed women.

In Punjab, total 478 women would be released out of 1032 jailed women. Out of 338 women jailed in Sindh, over 70 women are charged for violation of Hudood laws.

In, NWFP total 334 women are languishing in jails including many charged in minor crimes.

Sumaira on Female Inmates

"President Musharraf has taken a bold decision to protect the rights of women and save them from the misuse of Islamic laws," said Pakistan's Minister for Women and Youth Affairs Ms Sumaira Malik on Saturday.

Earlier she had announced that President Pervez Musharraf had signed the amendment.

Friday's amendment is President's first to the Hadood Ordinance, legislation based on the Holy Quran and Islamic tradition.

The ordinance was introduced in 1979 by the late President General Zia-ul-Haq.

The Amendment

Minister Ms Sumaira Malik gave details of the amnded law; which titles; Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006

She said; President General Pervez Musharraf has promulgated the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, further amending the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (Act V of 1898).

The Ordinance may be called the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 will come into force with immediate effect.

Text of the Ordinance

ORDINANCE No. XIII OF 2006
AN
ORDINANCE

further to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898

WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (Act V of 1898) for the purpose hereinafter appearing;

AND WHEREAS the National Assembly is not in session and the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action;

NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 89 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:-

1. Short title and commencement.

(1) This Ordinance may be called the Code of Criminal Procedure
(Amendment) Ordinance,2006.
(2) It shall come into force at once.

2. Amendment of section 497, Act V of 1898.- In the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898), in sub-section (1), in the first proviso, the words "or any woman" shall be omitted and after the first proviso amended as aforesaid, the following new provisos shall be inserted, namely:-

Provided further that a woman accused of such an offence shall be released on bail, as if the offence is bailable, notwithstanding anything contained in Schedule-II to this Code of any other law for the time being in force:

Provided further that a woman may not be so released it there appear reasonable grounds for believing that the she has been guilty of an offence relating to terrorism, financial corruption and murder and such offence is punishable with death or imprisonment for life or imprisonment for ten years, unless having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the court directs that she may be released on bail.

Provided further that where a woman accused of an offence is refused bail under detained for a continuous period of six months-and whose trail for such offence has not been concluded, unless the court is of the opinion that the delay in the trail of the accused has been occasioned by an act or omission of the accused or any other person acting on her behalf:".

Recap

To recap details of the announcement made by President General Pervez Musharraf, as reported by 'Pakistan Times' [Daily Web Newspaper] in its edition of Saturday, July-08, Click Here:

http://www.pakistantimes.net/2006/07/08/top.htm●