Pakistan death penalty practices are among the most severe in the world, with the country accounting for an alarming 26 percent of the global death row population, as highlighted in a report released by the non-profit organization Justice Project Pakistan (JPP).
The report indicates that there are currently 6,161 prisoners on death row in 2024, a slight increase from the 6,039 recorded in 2023. This figure marks a dramatic rise from the 3,226 death row inmates in 2022, underscoring a concerning trend in the application of capital punishment in Pakistan.
The JPP’s third annual report, titled Death Penalty in Pakistan: Data Mapping Capital Punishment, was published to coincide with the 22nd World Day Against the Death Penalty. It revealed that the majority of death row prisoners reside in Punjab province, which holds 2,505 inmates, followed closely by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 2,311.
According to the JPP, Pakistan’s death penalty practices account for 13 percent of global executions and 14 percent of worldwide death sentences, further establishing the nation as one of the highest users of capital punishment.
Since 2004, Pakistan has issued over 4,500 death sentences, averaging nearly one sentence per day. Disturbingly, every seventh person sentenced to death globally and every eighth person executed is from Pakistan, illustrating the grave implications of the country’s death penalty policies.
Although Pakistan has not executed anyone since December 2019, the JPP emphasizes that the country remains a prolific user of capital punishment, with over 31 offenses carrying the death penalty. The report calls for urgent reform, inviting policymakers, advocates, and the public to engage in meaningful dialogue on justice reform.
“The report not only provides a statistical overview of death row inmates but also investigates the systemic issues within Pakistan’s criminal justice system that perpetuate the use of the death penalty,” stated the JPP. The NGO aims to amplify the individual stories behind these statistics, shedding light on the often-neglected human impact of state-sanctioned executions.
The death penalty in Pakistan remains a pressing concern in 2024, with alarming statistics revealing 6,161 prisoners on death row—up from 6,039 in 2023, according to Justice Project Pakistan (JPP). Their latest report, Death Penalty in Pakistan: Data Mapping Capital Punishment, released on the 22nd World Day against the Death Penalty, critically examines the systemic issues perpetuating capital punishment in the country.
Punjab accounts for the highest number of inmates at 2,505, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 2,311. The report highlights a troubling rise from 3,226 death row inmates in 2022, emphasizing Pakistan’s ranking as one of the highest users of the death penalty globally.
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Although no executions have occurred since December 2019, over 31 offenses still carry the death penalty, underscoring the urgent need for judicial reform.
