Pakistan announced on Friday to release some 1300 women, who are jailed under Islamic laws and minor crimes, according to a cabinet Minister.

The decision was made at a meeting chaired by President General Pervez Musharraf, Minister for Women and Youth Affairs Sumaira Malik said.

However, the Minister added that women involved in acts of terrorism, murder and other major crimes would not be freed under the new law.

"The president said at the meeting that all 'gender bias laws' would be abolished, and thousands of women were languishing in jails for years because of delay in the verdicts in their cases," the Minister said.

Most of the women are charged under Islamic laws, known as " Hooduds" established in 1979.

The Hudood ordinance has been a subject for debate in the country, as many Islamic groups and conservative members of parliament said its abolition would be an un-Islamic act.

Source: Xinhua