Nearly three-quarters of Pakistan’s prisoners were awaiting trial in 2024, as overcrowding and delays in the criminal justice system continue to put pressure on prisons….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Pakistan’s prisons are facing severe overcrowding, with nearly three-quarters of inmates held without conviction, according to a policy paper by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).
The report, titled Beyond the Prison Wall: Reducing Overcrowding in Pakistan’s Prisons, found that under-trial prisoners accounted for 73.41 per cent of the country’s prison population in 2024, up from 66 per cent in 2017, The Express Tribune reported.
The findings point to mounting pressure on Pakistan’s criminal justice system, with a large proportion of inmates remaining in custody while awaiting trial.
The report also highlighted the scale of overcrowding across the country. During July and August 2024, prisons were operating at an average of 152.2 per cent of their officially approved capacity.
The HRCP said increasing prison capacity alone would not resolve the problem, identifying weaknesses within the criminal justice system as major contributors to overcrowding.
These include shortcomings in bail procedures, lengthy trials and the excessive use of pre-trial detention. Arbitrary arrests, slow investigations and prolonged prosecution were also identified as factors contributing to the growing number of under-trial prisoners.
Punjab was highlighted as facing particularly acute overcrowding.
According to official prison figures cited in the HRCP report, Punjab housed 74,773 prisoners across 45 prisons in September 2026, against a sanctioned capacity of 39,204 inmates. The occupancy rate stood at 190.73 per cent.
Of the total prison population in the province, 54,932 prisoners were awaiting trial.
The report noted that Punjab has invested significantly in expanding its prison infrastructure, including through the construction of additional prisons, barracks and other facilities.
However, the expansion has failed to keep pace with the increase in the inmate population.
In 2010, Punjab had 52,803 prisoners compared with a capacity of 21,527. Overcrowding in the province stood at 173.6 per cent in 2024, according to figures cited by The Express Tribune.
The HRCP argued that the growing prison population cannot be addressed solely by building more facilities. It called attention to delays throughout the criminal justice process, particularly the time taken for investigations and court proceedings.
Many accused people spend months or years in detention while waiting for investigations to be completed or cases to proceed through the courts, the report said.
The findings underline the need for reforms aimed at reducing unnecessary pre-trial detention and improving the efficiency of the justice system.
The HRCP’s assessment comes as Pakistan continues to grapple with prison overcrowding, placing additional pressure on existing facilities and highlighting the wider challenges faced by the country’s criminal justice system.
