Online system for prisoners’ sentence records launched

LAHORE:The Punjab Home Department has digitised the records of sentence remissions and remaining prison terms, making the information accessible online.

Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal inaugurated the modern system at a ceremony held at the Home Department on Friday. Under the new system, families of prisoners across Punjab can now check the release date of their incarcerated relatives by simply sending an SMS. To access this information, citizens can type PMIS (Space) (Prisoner’s Computer Number) and send it to 8070 and in response they will get details of the last two sentence remissions granted and the expected release date. The service is available for a standard charge of Rs5 per SMS.

According to Punjab Home Department spokesperson, prison sentences can be reduced or pardoned under various legal provisions, including government amnesties, educational achievements, skill training and good conduct. Each remission must be promptly updated in the prisoner’s record.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Noorul Amin Mengal stated that prisoners and their families will no longer face difficulties in accessing remission records. He emphasised that the digitisation of sentence and release data ensures transparency, preventing any prisoner from being held beyond their lawful term. To maintain up-to-date records, new regulations have been issued, and the Directorate of Monitoring has been instructed to conduct surprise inspections in prisons. The secretary further stressed that strict action will be taken against any violations of the established rules.

The launch ceremony was attended by Special Secretary Fazal Rehman, Additional Secretary Prisons Asim Raza, Punjab Charity Commission Chairman Col Shehzad Amir, Additional Secretary Judicial Imran Ranjha, Additional Secretary Foreign National Security Uzma Saleem, and other officials.