130 women serving life sentence in Punjab jails: report

LAHORE: The Inspectorate General (IG) of Punjab Prisons, in response to a right to information application filed by Advocate Sarmad Ali, has disclosed that 130 women are serving life imprisonment in the province's 43 operational prisons.

The report revealed that Punjab has only one dedicated facility for female inmates, the women jail in Multan. In other prisons, women are accommodated in specific blocks or portions designated for female prisoners.

Earlier this month, the IG Punjab Prisons had shared additional data, stating that 25 women inmates are currently in custody, with two serving life sentences and three sentenced to death.

Advocate Sarmad Ali, a frequent filer of right to information applications, emphasised the urgent need for separate jails for women in Punjab and across Pakistan. He highlighted the recent Lahore High Court directive urging authorities to expedite the establishment of women’s prisons in Punjab as part of broader jail reform initiatives.

‘The absence of sufficient dedicated facilities for women inmates undermines their safety, privacy, and rehabilitation opportunities,’ said Advocate Sarmad Ali, calling for immediate government action.

The lack of women’s jails remains a significant concern for prison reform advocates, especially with the growing calls for structural changes to ensure humane treatment and reform-oriented facilities for incarcerated individuals. —