Without urgent reform, the NCJP warns, Pakistan’s prisons will remain a microcosm of wider societal discrimination. “Minority prisoners deserve dignity, equality and hope,” the report concludes – a plea that echoes far beyond prison walls.
Religious minority prisoners in Pakistan are subjected to systemic discrimination, harsh treatment and denial of basic rights compared to their Muslim counterparts, according to a new report by the Catholic bishops’ human rights body.
The study, Hope Behind Bars, was released on Aug. 15 by the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), a human rights arm of Pakistan’s Catholic bishops. Based on fieldwork carried out between May 2023 and March 2025, the report draws on testimonies of prisoners and prison data to expose discriminatory practices across 128 jails in six regions – Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to official data cited in the report, Pakistan’s prison population stands at about 102,026 inmates, including 1,748 prisoners from minority faiths. Most are held in Punjab, the country’s most populous province, which accounts for 1,588 minority inmates. The rest are held in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The NCJP said that once jail authorities discover the religious identity of prisoners, especially Hindus and Christians, they are routinely subjected to humiliation and given the most degrading work assignments. Christian prisoners are often labelled “untouchables,” forced to clean toilets and sewers, and denied opportunities available to Muslim inmates. “Despite injustice, they pursue dignity, faith and education,” the report noted, describing their resilience under adversity.
Discriminatory Remission Policy
One area of major concern is the discriminatory remission policy. Between 2022 and 2025, authorities in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa granted sentence reductions to 1,937 Muslim prisoners for memorizing the Quran or observing Ramadan. Christian, Hindu, and Sikh prisoners were not offered similar concessions, the NCJP said.
The report also highlights how prisoners accused of blasphemy face the harshest conditions. Blasphemy is a highly sensitive offense in Pakistan, where accusations often trigger mob violence and social ostracism. Data from the National Commission for Human Rights shows that as of June 2025, at least 705 prisoners – both Muslims and non-Muslims – were jailed in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on blasphemy charges.
The NCJP report includes testimonies from ten prisoners: eight Christians, one Hindu and one Ahmadi. Their stories reveal abuse from prison staff and fellow inmates, denial of basic legal rights, and psychological torment. One of the most harrowing cases cited is that of Nadeem James, a Christian sentenced to death in 2016 for allegedly sharing a “blasphemous” poem on WhatsApp. His elder brother, Faryad Masih, recounted how police detained and beat eight members of their family for four days to coerce James into surrendering. “He was beaten in custody and taken to solitary confinement every night,” Masih said. James’ appeals have since been rejected by the Lahore High Court.
Mob Pressure
Christian rights activist Joseph Jansen called James’ case “a grave injustice,” blaming mob pressure and religious extremism. “This was not justice; it was coercion,” he said, urging the international community to pressure Pakistan for reforms and compliance with UN human rights conventions.
The NCJP’s report calls for wide-ranging reforms, framing the issue as both a human tragedy and a systemic failure. It urges authorities to improve mental health services, particularly for inmates on death row, strengthen safeguards against torture with confidential complaint mechanisms, and provide equal access to religious programs. It also advocates literacy and vocational training, enhanced legal aid, and transparent data collection to ensure accountability.
Without urgent reform, the NCJP warns, Pakistan’s prisons will remain a microcosm of wider societal discrimination. “Minority prisoners deserve dignity, equality and hope,” the report concludes – a plea that echoes far beyond prison walls.
Image: ChatGPT.
