The committee also stated that new batches of pretrial detainees will be released next week.

Committee member Tarek El-Awady has specified on his twitter account that 1,040 pretrial detainees have been released as well as 12 prisoners who received presidential pardons.

The committee also praised its collaboration with Prosecutor General Hamada El-Sawy and Minister of Interior Mahmoud Tawfik in securing the release of detainees.

Furthermore, the committee affirmed that it has received several suggestions on names eligible to receive pardon. These names were submitted by  political parties and the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR).

Many youths along with a host of journalists and women have been released, added the committee. 

The committee, meanwhile, underscored its impartiality and objectivity, and that its mission complies with the National Strategy for Human Rights. 

Since the reactivation of the Presidential Pardon Committee in April, President El-Sisi has also pardoned a number of high-profile political activists who had received final sentences, such as Hossam Mones, Yehia Abdel-Hady and Hisham Fouad.

The pardon committee, which was originally formed in 2016, is an advisory body to the president which receives suggestions for names to be considered for  pardon. The final decision on eligibility for pardon rests with the president.