Biometric identification of prisoners: Authorities told to take measures

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday ordered the provincial prison authorities to take immediate measures in coordination with NADRA for biometric identification of prisoners in jails of the province.

A division bench of the SHC while hearing a petition regarding the biometric identification of prisoners showed annoyance over the delay in the matter.

The additional advocate-general of Sindh told the court that biometric system had started working in Karachi Central Prison, Malir Prison and Hyderabad Prison.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that delay was being caused in the issues related to public welfare and ordered the authorities to furnish a detailed report with the court by November 3, 2020.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the case had been lingering since 2013, saying that people having names similar to accused were put in the jails with the nexus of jail authorities.

The counsel stated that the high court ordered marking the presence of the prisoners through biometric system in 2015 and said that this system was imperative in view of the security measures.

Meanwhile, the SHC approved for hearing the appeals of Abdul Rahman Bhola and Zubair aka Charya and three others, convicted in the Baldia factory fire case.

The court issued a notice to the prosecutor general and sought the copy of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) and details of the case.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020