2,193 men, 15 women on death row in Punjab jails

LAHORE:The Inspectorate General of Punjab Prisons has disclosed that 2,193 men and 15 women are currently on death row in the province's 43 operational prisons. Additionally, 25 women are incarcerated under blasphemy charges. The figures were released in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Advocate Sarmad Ali the Director of Legal Awareness Watch and President Frontline.

The report available with The News, provides a detailed jail-wise breakdown of death row inmates. Central Jail Faisalabad holds the highest number, with 238 prisoners sentenced to death, followed closely by Central Jail Multan with 236. Lahore’s Central Jail houses 152 such inmates, while District Jail Sheikhupura has 135. Other significant numbers include District Jail Sargodha (102), Central Jail Gujranwala (68), and Central Jail Bahawalpur (80). The lowest figures were reported at District Jail Kasur and District Jail Lahore, each holding only one death row prisoner. The data was obtained by Samrad Ali Advocate under Article 19(A) of the Constitution of Pakistan, which ensures citizens’ right to access public information, and Section 10 of the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013. Advocate Sarmad Ali emphasised that the findings highlight the scale of death row incarceration in Punjab and raise concerns over judicial delays and pending appeals.

Pakistan has one of the highest death row populations globally, prompting frequent calls from human rights organisations for judicial reforms and a reconsideration of the death penalty.Advocate Sarmad Ali urged authorities to address systemic delays in the judicial process and explore alternative sentencing options.