Islamabad, March 2: Even though prisoners in Pakistan are entitled to adequate living conditions that are hygienic – including food, clothing, and medical care – they are being treated as if they were kept in chicken coops, with no focus on reform or rehabilitation. A recent report states that the current situation in Pakistani prisons makes it almost impossible to protect these rights.
According to a prison data report for 2024, prisons in Pakistan are operating at an average capacity of 152.2 percent. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered courts across the country to be cautious when considering bail applications and to make decisions with increased sensitivity. The court's ruling states that bail will only be granted in exceptional cases. The court also emphasized the need to quickly address the backlog of pending cases, which currently stands at 2.2 million.
"This extremely serious backlog of cases further makes prison reforms difficult, as incarcerated individuals often remain in the system for decades simply waiting for or undergoing trial. Approximately 73.41 per cent of the total prison population in Pakistan are under-trial prisoners. In addition to the persistent problem of the backlog of cases and inadequate space in prisons, the country's judicial system is known for over-incarcerating individuals, especially when it comes to drug-related offenses, instead of implementing a process that prioritizes access to drug rehabilitation programs," an editorial in leading Pakistani daily 'The Express Tribune' stated.
The newspaper highlighted that while prisoners do not have complete constitutional rights, they are still entitled to the right to dignity. They are entitled to access rehabilitation services, as the purpose of incarceration is to protect society and reduce recidivism.
"Around 2,000 juvenile offenders also make up the total residential population of prisons, and they face equally dire conditions as everyone else. Approximately 90 per cent of these offenders are awaiting trial. Prisons are simply treated like chicken coops in this country, with no regard for reform or rehabilitation. Prisoners are a problem no one is willing to deal with," The Express Tribune added.
