Justice behind bars

A recent report by the Ministry of Human Rights, presented to the National Assembly, offers a sobering glimpse into the state of women incarcerated in Pakistan. With 2,084 women currently imprisoned across the country – constituting 1.37 per cent of the total prison population – on the surface, the numbers may appear modest. However, the details warrant urgent reflection and reform. The number of incarcerated women has been on a steady rise since 2019, with a 2.8 per cent increase recorded between 2023 and 2024. This trend, along with the challenges outlined by the ministry itself, makes it abundantly clear: Pakistan needs prison reform at a larger scale, focusing on the rights, conditions and treatment of women prisoners. There are only four dedicated women’s prisons in the country – three in Sindh and one in Multan – leading to most women detainees being housed in separate barracks within male prisons. This often fails to offer women the privacy, protection and dignity they deserve. Coupled with overcrowding, limited rehabilitation facilities and an underdeveloped probation system, these conditions can lead to further marginalisation and psychological trauma.

The report, titled ‘Plight of Women in Pakistan’s Prisons’, rightly identifies crucial gaps and recommends a set of reforms, including reducing the number of under-trial prisoners, developing sentencing alternatives, and improving post-release reintegration programmes. Legal reforms are essential in a justice system where procedural delays and lack of legal counsel disproportionately affect women, many of whom are incarcerated for non-violent or socio-economically driven offences, such as narcotics-related crimes. To its credit, the government has made some progress. Probation and parole services have expanded slightly, and female prisoners now reportedly have access to basic facilities like food, medical care, vocational training and legal support. However, these developments are incremental at best and not consistent across provinces. For example, while 190 women have benefited from probation in Punjab, the numbers in Sindh and KP are dismally low – only nine and six, respectively.

True prison reform must move beyond piecemeal improvements and recognise that the criminal justice system, as it stands, often fails to account for the socio-economic vulnerabilities that drive women to crime. Many incarcerated women are mothers, primary caregivers or victims of domestic violence. The establishment of the Implementation Commission on Prison Reforms, as directed by the Islamabad High Court in 2019, is a step in the right direction. But commissions and reports alone are not enough. What is needed is robust political will, resource allocation and a gender-sensitive approach to justice that prioritises rehabilitation over retribution. Women prisoners are citizens with rights, and their treatment is a direct measure of our commitment to human dignity and reform.