off date for prisoners to be released under the royal pardon issued recently by King Abdullah, according to an official source Thursday at the General Administration for Prisons. This confirmation comes in the wake of concerns by prisoners and their families that the pardon will only be valid for two weeks after it was issued. The King pardoned a number of prisoners recently to mark the return of Crown Prince Sultan, after his medical treatment abroad. The source said the release of prisoners would be determined by committees currently assessing the files of those who could qualify. Prisoners who qualify would be released, no matter how long these committees took to assess each case. He added that pardons will only be issued for cases that took place before the King's decision, not for cases coming afterwards. The source pointed out that the pardon applies to Saudis and expatriates. However, expatriates who face deportation will still have to go through all the necessary government procedures before they are allowed to leave the country. The royal pardon does not excuse expatriates from having to complete all these procedures.
