Jails are often seen as a place of punishment, a space where criminals are locked away from society. Yet, their intended purpose should be rehabilitation – a chance especially for those involved in minor or petty crimes to regain their place in society. Unfortunately, Pakistan’s prison system is far from living up to this ideal. Cultural attitudes towards crime and punishment have distorted the purpose of these institutions, leading to overcrowded jails and a lack of meaningful reform. According to the Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), some jails are running at over 300 per cent capacity, and the problem is growing. Although the increase in prison population from 2023 to 2024 may seem modest at 1.66 per cent, the larger issue lies in the overwhelming number of under-trial prisoners, who make up a staggering 73.41 per cent of the total incarcerated population. This is far higher than the global average of 27 per cent, with Sindh leading the country in the number of under-trial detainees. Most alarming is that the slow justice system and long wait times for trials are largely to blame for this massive number of individuals detained without a verdict.
Pakistani jails are also witnessing a growing number of individuals incarcerated for drug-related offences. As of April 2024, over 23,000 people were imprisoned under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act (CNSA), comprising a significant portion of the prison population. Punjab leads the country with 68 per cent of the national total. While the country has made strides in reducing the death penalty for drug offences, the large number of incarcerated drug offenders speaks to the systemic issues in how crimes are prosecuted and punished. But these issues are not only about the quantity of prisoners; they are also about the quality of justice. The slow-moving justice system continues to add to the burden, as an increasing number of cases remain pending in courts. Efforts have been made, such as the session held by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to discuss a national jail reform policy, but concrete action has yet to materialise. One of the major hurdles to prison reform is the cultural tendency to view criminals as irredeemable. This is especially true for people caught committing petty crimes or financial frauds, with many victims demanding retribution rather than a restorative approach. To tackle these issues, reform must come from multiple fronts. Prisons should aim to rehabilitate, not simply punish. This could be accomplished by introducing measures such as electronic ankle bracelets for under-trial prisoners to prevent flight risk without overcrowding the prison system. Simultaneously, alternative sentencing programmes and financial compensation mechanisms could allow victims to feel heard and compensated without sentencing petty criminals to unnecessarily long prison terms.
Beyond the immediate prison reforms, Pakistan must address the root causes of its crime rates. The country’s socio-economic conditions push many individuals towards a life of crime, and these conditions need to be addressed to prevent future generations from falling into the same cycle. For those not involved in violent or severe criminal activity, society must allow the possibility of redemption. After all, people deserve a second chance – especially those caught in the grip of economic hardship or driven to crime due to limited opportunities. Reform is never easy, but Pakistan’s prison system cannot continue on its current path. Overcrowded, inefficient and punitive, it is failing both those incarcerated and the society they return to.