Islamabad: In a humanitarian gesture on the occasion of Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day, President Asif Ali Zardari has granted a 90-day remission of sentence for elderly prisoners serving life terms. This decision, announced on Monday, specifically benefits male prisoners aged 65 and above and female prisoners aged 60 and above who have served at least one-third of their sentence.

According to Pakistan Peoples Party, the remission, authorized under Article 45 of the Constitution, is part of the president’s broader effort to offer relief to older inmates who pose minimal risk to society. However, this remission will not extend to those convicted of severe crimes including murder, espionage, rape, and terrorism, among other exclusions. It also specifically applies to female prisoners incarcerated with their children and individuals under the age of 18.