Lahore: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi emphasized the necessity of a humane and effective prison system to ensure a fair legal framework while chairing a consultative meeting on prison reforms in Lahore. The Chief Justice highlighted significant concerns regarding overcrowding in the country’s prisons, describing the current situation as alarming.

According to Radio Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi noted that the total prison capacity across Pakistan is 66,625, yet the number of inmates has surged to 108,643. Specifically in Punjab, the prisons have a capacity for 36,365 inmates, but they currently house 67,837 prisoners, with 36,128 of those awaiting trial. The Chief Justice underscored the urgent need for action to address these issues and identified the meeting as the initial step toward reforming the prison system.