Justice Project Pakistan

Defending the most vulnerable prisoners facing the harshest punishments in Pakistan and abroad. For all press inquiries, email at: [email protected].

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

Can a legal tradition built centuries ago speak to one of today’s most urgent human rights debates?

Justice Project Pakistan brought together Islamic scholars, legal experts, academics, and diplomatic representatives to launch its policy brief, Capital Punishment in Islam.

Developed with the support of the @EUPakistan, the policy brief sets out how Islamic jurisprudence and international human rights law converge on the right to life, mercy, the requirement of public interest, and what that convergence could mean for death penalty reform in Pakistan.

Watch the highlights from the launch event and read the brief here: https://t.co/KySy3T6D8q

#CapitalPunishment #IslamAndHumanRights #DeathPenaltyReform #JusticeProjectPakistan

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

“Islamic law is adaptable to any framework that does not directly conflict with the limits it prescribes; this includes international human rights law and other modern developments in legal systems", remarked Professor Dr. Sami ur Rehman, the lead author of our policy brief titled "Capital Punishment in Islam", at the launch event.

Islamic criminal justice places more emphasis on the sanctity of life than punishment. The Qur'an permits the taking of life only where it is authorised by law, imposed by a competent judicial authority, and preceded by due process, and withheld wherever legally material doubt remains.

These principles are not foreign to international human rights law; they converge with it on the right to life, fair trial, mercy, and the protection of the vulnerable.

The policy brief, supported by @EUPakistan, brings these principles together in a practical framework for reform, grounded in both traditions.

Read the brief: https://t.co/KySy3T65iS

#PrisonReform #IslamAndCapitalPunishment #PakistanPrisons #JusticeProjectPakistan

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

Justice Project Pakistan, in collaboration with @nchrofficial and with the support of the @EUPakistan, launched the Pakistan Prison Data Report 2026 and three prison reform action tools in Islamabad.

The report shows that Pakistan’s prisons now hold 110,513 people in facilities designed for approximately 68,832, with the system operating at 160.6% of authorised capacity. It also shows that 82,988 people, or 75.09% of the national prison population, are under trial, making excessive under-trial detention the largest single driver of pressure on prisons.

Launched alongside the report, the Gap Analysis of Provincial Prison Rules, Policy Brief on Reducing Prison Overcrowding, and Detention Monitoring Toolkit translate this evidence into practical reform.

The event brought together government representatives, prison authorities, human rights institutions, development partners, legal experts, civil society and the media for high-level discussions on overcrowding, overincarceration of under-trial prisoners, and women and children in detention, moderated by senior journalist and news anchor @AbsaKomal.

From evidence to implementation, the task now is to reduce unnecessary imprisonment, strengthen oversight and protect the rights and dignity of persons deprived of liberty.

Read the full report here: https://t.co/d1xv5qwPRF

@UNDP_Pakistan
@UNODCPakistan

#AnnualPakistanPrisonDataReport2026 #Pakistan #PrisonReform #JusticeProjectPakistan

[UNDP Pakistan @UNDP_Pakistan]

“Overcrowding is measured inside a prison, but its causes run across the whole justice system, and that is where action is needed.”

At the launch of the Pakistan Annual Prison Data Report 2026, @Van_ntn, Deputy Resident Representative #UNDPinPakistan, highlighted the impact of the @EUPakistan 🇪🇺-funded Deliver Justice Project in KP, which has established 12 virtual court points, supported the KP Prisons Act 2025, trained 103 officials, and strengthened healthcare and infrastructure for 5,400+ inmates.

The work underscores the importance of addressing justice challenges across the entire system — from courts and legislation to prisons and rehabilitation.

#JusticeForAll #RuleOfLaw

[EUPakistan @EUPakistan]

At its heart, this is about upholding human dignity, fairness and the right to life. The European Union maintains a strong, longstanding, and principled opposition to the death penalty and remains committed to supporting Pakistan in advancing vital reforms.
Ambassador @KaroblisR

[EUPakistan @EUPakistan]

“How we manage prisons reflects how we treat vulnerable people in our custody. The EU supports evidence-based reforms for access to justice & humane, rights-based imprisonment.”

Jeroen Willems,🇪🇺 Head of Partnerships at launch of 🇵🇰 Prison Data 2026.

🔗:https://t.co/uvB7l94s4c

[National Commission for Human Rights @nchrofficial]

"We have a criminal justice problem." Chairperson @RabiyaJaveri at the launch of Annual Prison Data 2026 by NCHR and @JusticeProject_ .
82,988 people are in prison awaiting trial. That is more than the entire system was built to hold.

https://t.co/16HxDqOfRW

[National Commission for Human Rights @nchrofficial]

Strong turnout at launch of the *Annual Prisons Data Report 2026*, jointly by NCHR and @JusticeProject_
“Pakistan does not simply have a prison overcrowding problem. We have a criminal justice problem.” — @RabiyaJaveri Chairperson NCHR

[National Commission for Human Rights @nchrofficial]

NCHR's 300+ prison inspections show human cost.National Prison Reform Action Plan by NCHR & Supreme Court, offers way forward. Task is to turn commitments into real change inside Pakistan's prisons. Launch of Prison Data Report with @JusticeProject_
https://t.co/LvlWsveHpb

[National Commission for Human Rights @nchrofficial]

Launch of Prison Data Report @nchrofficial & @JusticeProject_
https://t.co/16HxDqOfRW

[National Commission for Human Rights @nchrofficial]

Prison Data Report. NCHR & @JusticeProject_ nhri & civil society partnership yields critical report on state of prisons in Pakistan.
https://t.co/LPR7EKNJFF

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

The brief argues that death penalty reform in Pakistan need not be framed as a choice between Islam and human rights. It can instead be grounded in principles recognised by both: protection of life, justice, restraint, mercy and the prevention of irreversible injustice.
The launch brought together senior delegation from @EUPakistan , academics, policymakers, and the media.

#WorldDayAgainstDeathPenalty #PolicyBrief #JusticeProjectPakistan #EU

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

In commemoration of World Day Against the Death Penalty, Justice Project Pakistan launched the Policy Brief "Capital Punishment in Islam". The brief is commissioned by JPP, with the support of the @EUPakistan , and led by Professor Dr. Sami ur Rehman.

The launch opened with a welcome note by @SarahBelal_ - Executive Director of JPP, followed by opening remarks from H.E. Mr Raimundas Karoblis, the Ambassador of @EUPakistan .

#WorldDayAgainstDeathPenalty #JusticeProjectPakistan #CapitalPunishment #PolicyBrief

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

The policy brief was then launched through a moderated discussion between Sarah Belal and Prof. Dr. Sami Ur Rehman, author of the brief and Dean of Riffat Mushtaq School of Law at IVY Academic Network Islamabad.
They discussed the brief’s key findings and recommendations, including how Islamic principles of sanctity of life, mercy, due process, evidentiary certainty and protection against wrongful execution can support a more restrictive death penalty framework.

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

We continue to push for sustained prison reform in Pakistan through data-backed research and practical, rights-based recommendations that offer policymakers a clear path forward.
View our Annual Prison Data Report 2026 and three other prison reform action tools here: https://t.co/ihUtHrZWZW

*These publications are produced with the support of @EUPakistan .

#PrisonDataReport2026 #PrisonReform #JusticeProjectPakistan

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

At the launch of Annual Prison Data Report 2026, three high-level panels with key stakeholders, moderated by senior journalist @AbsaKomal , discussed the report's findings and recommendations. They explored prison overcrowding, overincarceration of undertrial prisoners, and the detention of women and children in Pakistan's prisons.

@EUPakistan @nchrofficial

#PrisonDataReport2026 #PrisonReform #JusticeProjectPakistan

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

@RabiyaJaveri , Chairperson @nchrofficial delivered the keynote address, formally launching the prison reform action tools including the Detention Monitoring Toolkit.

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

On 8 October 2026, Justice Project Pakistan, in collaboration with the @nchrofficial and with the generous support of the @EUPakistan , convened a high-level launch event in Islamabad for the Annual Prisons Data Report 2026 and a set of prison reform action tools.

#PrisonDataReport2026 #JusticeProjectPakistan #PrisonReform

[Justice Project Pakistan @JusticeProject_]

In his opening remarks, Jeroen Willems, Head of Partnerships at the @EUPakistan said, “The condition of prisons is a significant indicator of the state of rule of law in any country, and over the past year, there have been major efforts to improve prison conditions in Pakistan. I would like to applaud the signing of Islamabad Declaration on Prison Reforms by all four provincial chief ministers...”