KABUL - About 536 prisoners have been released from central jails in three provinces in compliance with a presidential decree issued on Mujahideen Victory Day, falling on April 28, an official said on Tuesday.

However, those released from the Pul-i-Charkhi prison on the eastern outskirts of Kabul claimed they had access to drugs inside the prison.

Three hundreds prisoners were released from the Pul-i-Charkhi prison, 176 from the central jail in Lashkargah, the capital of southern Helmand province and 60 from the jail in Aibak, the capital of northern Samangan.

Syed Murad Sharifi, General Director overseeing final judgments of the Supreme Court, said an authorised commission had decided the cases of those released.

Under the presidential decree, he said, prisoners with one year left in their five-year jail terms had been released and those convicted to 10 years in jail awarded 20 days to one month concessions in sentences.

Sharifi said the presidential decree covered all prisoners across the country, including the Bagram jail.

Helmand Governor Mohammad Naeem told Pajhwok Afghan News those released from the Lashkargah jail included 14 children and two women.

He said the beneficiaries included political prisoners and those convicted on criminal charges.

More than 1,300 prisoners, including 18 children and as many women, are being held at the Lashkargah prison.  Local officials say women and children are kept in separate cells.

Some of the prisoners released from the Pul-i-Charkhi jail claimed they easily accessed drugs. One of them Amanullah said prison guards supplied drugs to the inmates.

However, the jail commander, Brig. Gen. Sardar Mohammad Zazai, said they had had put in place tight measures to prevent drugs from being supplied inside the facility and all visitors were subjected to various searches. (Pajhwok)