Pakistan has around 116 prisons with an official capacity of 66,625 inmates. However, these facilities currently house over 100,000 prisoners – far exceeding their intended capacity and leading to severe overcrowding. A significant factor contributing to this situation is the delay in the judicial process. In many cases, prisoners remain in custody for extended periods while awaiting trial or sentencing. This not only places a financial burden on the government but also leads to a loss of human potential as many of these individuals are the primary breadwinners for their families.
There is an urgent need to reform the justice system to ensure timely and efficient adjudication. By streamlining legal procedures and expediting court decisions, many cases could be resolved within days, eliminating the need for prolonged imprisonment. In such cases, temporary detention in police lockups could suffice, reducing the demand on the prison system. Thousands of individuals have spent large portions of their lives behind bars, sometimes without justified cause. Reforming the justice system to deliver swift and fair outcomes will reduce this problem.
Muhammad Abdus Samad
Islamabad
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