Syed Naeem Shah, who is serving a life sentence in Pakistan for murder has won a prestigious scholarship to study further after he passed intermediate exams with distinction. He scored 954 marks out of 1,100.

The 35-year-old Shah, who is an inmate in Central Prison Karachi earned a chartered accountancy scholarship for the highest scores in the city's higher secondary school exams last year.&nbsp;

In an interview, Shah told Reuters, "What I have achieved while languishing in jail is not possible if one does not have conviction."

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After the achievement, he was recognised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP), which offered him a $5,700 scholarship so that he can complete his accounting studies.

As mentioned by Reuters, Shah also said that he enjoyed school as a child but that his family could not afford to continue his education. He was motivated by the older inmates who were taking classes, they even helped him prepare for exams.&nbsp;

As quoted by Arab News, Shah said, "Believe me, that was the happiest moment of my life, during my 11 years inside the jail. I could not sleep all night."

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Shah is one of 1,200 inmates studying in Central Prison Karachi, but his success is unparalleled, said Saeed Soomro, deputy superintendent of the prison.

"His results are (also) tantamount to our success," Soomro said.&nbsp;

Shah was convicted of murder in 2011 and he has been serving a 25-year sentence at the Karachi jail. Years spent as a prisoner on trial, plus time off for academic achievements, good behaviour and blood donations, leaves him with about six years to serve.

Also, important to note that Shah still has to pass an entrance exam to formally take up the scholarship, an ICAP official said, requesting anonymity as he is not authorised to talk to the media.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Syed Naeem Shah, who is serving a life sentence in Pakistan for murder has won a prestigious scholarship to study further after he passed intermediate exams with distinction.

Syed Naeem Shah, who is serving a life sentence in Pakistan for murder has won a prestigious scholarship to study further after he passed intermediate exams with distinction. He scored 954 marks out of 1,100. The 35-year-old Shah, who is an inmate in Central Prison Karachi earned a chartered accountancy scholarship for the highest scores in the city's higher secondary school exams last year. In an interview, Shah told Reuters, "What I have achieved while languishing in jail is not possible if one does not have conviction." ALSO READ | Pakistan supporting Chinese repression of Uyghurs: Report After the achievement, he was recognised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP), which offered him a $5,700 scholarship so that he can complete his accounting studies. As mentioned by Reuters, Shah also said that he enjoyed school as a child but that his family could not afford to continue his education. He was motivated by the older inmates who were taking classes, they even helped him prepare for exams. As quoted by Arab News, Shah said, "Believe me, that was the happiest moment of my life, during my 11 years inside the jail. I could not sleep all night." ALSO READ | Pakistan using 80% of COVID-19 testing kits of substandard quality: Report Shah is one of 1,200 inmates studying in Central Prison Karachi, but his success is unparalleled, said Saeed Soomro, deputy superintendent of the prison. "His results are (also) tantamount to our success," Soomro said. Shah was convicted of murder in 2011 and he has been serving a 25-year sentence at the Karachi jail. Years spent as a prisoner on trial, plus time off for academic achievements, good behaviour and blood donations, leaves him with about six years to serve. Also, important to note that Shah still has to pass an entrance exam to formally take up the scholarship, an ICAP official said, requesting anonymity as he is not authorised to talk to the media. (With inputs from agencies)

A convicted murderer in Pakistan wins scholarship to study further

A human rights report released on Monday has slammed Pakistan for its treatment to tens of thousands of inmates during the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

Instead of freeing prisoners like other countries to risk infection in overcrowded and unsanitary jails, Pakistan has increased the prison population.

Watch |&nbsp;

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From April 2020 to August 2020, the prison population increased by more than 6,000 across the country to 79,603.&nbsp;

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Prisoners who were initially freed were later rearrested.&nbsp;

The joint report was prepared by London-based Amnesty International and Justice Project Pakistan.&nbsp;

The report said the inmates face a rising threat of infection and urged authorities to renew efforts to free certain prisoners, especially, the elderly, women and those jailed of conscience.&nbsp;

As the country faces the second wave of the deadly virus, prisoners are still dangerously exposed since the authorities failed to tackle overcrowding and in fact worsened it, said Rimmel Mohydin, South Asia regional campaigner for Amnesty International, as reported by news agency AP.

During the initial outbreak of the virus in February, the Islamabad High Court ordered to free pretrial inmates charged with non-violent crimes as well as those whose bail had been earlier refused.&nbsp;

As many as 519 prisoners were released on bail in the southern Sindh province, but in late March, the Supreme Court suspended all bail orders that were given due to Covid-19.&nbsp;

The report said the apex court's decision led to a reverse trend to release prisoners and caused a rearrest of prisoners.&nbsp;

Sarah Belal, Justice Project Pakistan's executive director said the inmates who were to be freed because of age or time served were also not released.

The women who were convicted or on the trial of petty or minor crimes and were set to be released following Prime Minister Imran Khan's order were also not released, Belal said.&nbsp;

Pakistan's prisons were dangerously overcrowded before the outbreak struck and it normally jails about 80,000 people out of accommodation of fewer than 58,000 prisoners, according to the World Prison Brief.&nbsp;

A human rights report released on Monday has slammed Pakistan for its treatment to tens of thousands of inmates during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of freeing prisoners like other countries to risk infection in overcrowded and unsanitary jails, Pakistan has increased the prison population.

A human rights report released on Monday has slammed Pakistan for its treatment to tens of thousands of inmates during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of freeing prisoners like other countries to risk infection in overcrowded and unsanitary jails, Pakistan has increased the prison population. Watch | From April 2020 to August 2020, the prison population increased by more than 6,000 across the country to 79,603. Also read | Pakistan opposition's rise in protests signifies fall of Imran Khan Prisoners who were initially freed were later rearrested. The joint report was prepared by London-based Amnesty International and Justice Project Pakistan. The report said the inmates face a rising threat of infection and urged authorities to renew efforts to free certain prisoners, especially, the elderly, women and those jailed of conscience. As the country faces the second wave of the deadly virus, prisoners are still dangerously exposed since the authorities failed to tackle overcrowding and in fact worsened it, said Rimmel Mohydin, South Asia regional campaigner for Amnesty International, as reported by news agency AP. During the initial outbreak of the virus in February, the Islamabad High Court ordered to free pretrial inmates charged with non-violent crimes as well as those whose bail had been earlier refused. As many as 519 prisoners were released on bail in the southern Sindh province, but in late March, the Supreme Court suspended all bail orders that were given due to Covid-19. The report said the apex court's decision led to a reverse trend to release prisoners and caused a rearrest of prisoners. Sarah Belal, Justice Project Pakistan's executive director said the inmates who were to be freed because of age or time served were also not released. The women who were convicted or on the trial of petty or minor crimes and were set to be released following Prime Minister Imran Khan's order were also not released, Belal said. Pakistan's prisons were dangerously overcrowded before the outbreak struck and it normally jails about 80,000 people out of accommodation of fewer than 58,000 prisoners, according to the World Prison Brief.

Pakistani prisoners at high risk of coronavirus infection: Report

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A convicted murderer in Pakistan wins scholarship to study further

Pakistani prisoners at high risk of coronavirus infection: Report