A Karachi Central Jail inmate, incarcerated for the past 11 years, has won a scholarship worth Rs1 million to undertake a degree in chartered accountancy for his outstanding academic performance, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Friday.

The scholarship has been awarded by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) to Naeem Shah.

According to the jail officials, Naeem Shah had been sentenced to 25 years in jail following his conviction in a murder case. Shah has completed 11 years in jail, they added.

While living behind the bars for 11 years, Naeem received his basic education there and later in the intermediate examinations as a private candidate, the prisoner obtained 86.73 per cent marks.

Naeem was among the top 20 students who obtained the highest marks in the intermediate studies. After he proved his academic excellence, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) has offered him a scholarship.

Naeem said that he had been brought to Central Jail Karachi on May 19, 2011, in a murder offence under Section 302. He detailed that he had been sentenced to life imprisonment from a local court and he appealed against the verdict to the high court.

“When I came here at the jail, I was just a middle-level student. I got myself enrolled after witnessing better education facilities here under the rehabilitation programme for inmates. The completion of the program gave me the confidence to further continue my studies of matriculation.”

The prisoner added that he has also completed computer, Urdu, Arabic courses in the jail. In 2019, the inmate had also completed a training course of the Committee for the Welfare of Prisoners led by Nasir Aslam Zahid and later taught law to the new prisoners. “I feel honoured to get a scholarship offer from the ICAP. I will do my best.”

He said it was the happiest moment of his life.

Naeem claimed that he was convicted in a fake case. He said he had given a lift to his neighbour upon which the police had made him a scapegoat in a murder case.

He appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, President, Prime Minister and Chief Minister Sindh to help him seek justice so that he could be released from jail.

He said the saddest moment of his life was the time when he could not attend the funeral of his father due to his conviction.

He said he wanted to become a chartered accountant and after his release from jail, he wants to spread the knowledge among others.