'Overcrowded prisons are detrimental to society and state'

The survey reveals most jails have 57% more prisoners than their authorised capacity

KARACHI: Most jails in Pakistan are overcrowded but the government has yet to take serious steps to address this issue. According to a recent report by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) developed in collaboration with the Cursor for Development and Education Pakistan (CODE) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Pakistan's prisons have 57% more prisoners than their authorised capacity. The report titled, 'Addressing Overcrowding in Prisons by Reducing Pre-Conviction Detention in Pakistan,' says that two-thirds of the total prison population is still awaiting or undergoing trial.

The overcrowding has had adverse effects on the living conditions of both the detainees and the staff, claims the report. Hygiene and health facilities for both are compromised. Due to the huge number of inmates, the prisons are increasingly unable to play a corrective and reformative role, which is unfortunate for not only the prisoners and their families but also for the state and society.

The report puts forth a number of recommendations for the government departments such as balancing the use of imprisonment through de-criminalisation of petty offences and the introduction of alternatives to detention like community service in order to prevent unnecessary arrest and imprisonment. Improving the access to legal aid and providing better working conditions and advanced training modules to public prosecutors are also recommended.



Another recommendation is to introduce administrative measures at the police and prosecution levels to address delays in submitting challans and take measures against excessive adjournments. Measures to ensure the safety of different agencies and organisations involved in the criminal justice system are also advised.

The report is the outcome of a year-long research involving data collection and consultations with stakeholders including the federal government, the provinces and regions, police, prosecution, prisons, judiciary, lawyers, social activists, humanitarian organisations and subject-matter specialists.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2019.