According to a new report by Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), a Lahore-based legal action NGO, the number of prisoners on death row in Pakistan has increased to 6,161 in 2024, up from 6,039 in 2023. The findings were part of JPP’s third annual report, Death Penalty in Pakistan: Data Mapping Capital Punishment, released in commemoration of the 22nd World Day Against the Death Penalty.
The report highlights that the highest number of death row prisoners is in Punjab, with 2,505 inmates, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where 2,311 prisoners face the death penalty. These numbers stand in stark contrast to earlier trends; for example, in 2022, there were 3,226 individuals on death row.
JPP’s report offers not only a statistical overview but also insight into the issues within Pakistan’s criminal justice system that perpetuate the use of capital punishment. It emphasizes the need for reform, as Pakistan remains one of the world’s most prolific users of the death penalty, despite having not carried out an execution since December 2019.
The report also sheds light on the 31 crimes still punishable by death in the country, urging policymakers, advocates, and the public to engage in discussions around justice reform. JPP aims to humanize the issue by focusing on the individual stories behind these statistics, revealing the human toll of state-sanctioned executions.
The full report is available on JPP’s digital platform for public access.
