Voicepk.net

Category: National

  • Too Poor to Leave: Prisoners who remain behind bars despite bail orders because they cant pay for their release

    Too Poor to Leave: Prisoners who remain behind bars despite bail orders because they cant pay for their release

    October 8, 2026

    By Xari Jalil

    ISLAMABAD

    At least 113 people, including 11 children, remained imprisoned in Punjab despite having been granted bail because they could not afford the financial surety required for their release, highlighting how poverty can determine who remains behind bars even after a court has ordered their freedom, according to the Pakistan Prison Data Report 2026. The report, jointly produced by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), says the cases expose a gap between the legal right to bail and the ability of poor prisoners to actually secure release. In addition to this, the report says that Pakistan’s prison population has risen by 50% since 2019 as under-trial detention has driven overcrowding.

    When surety remains unsure

    A court may determine that a person’s continued detention is unnecessary, but an unaffordable surety can nevertheless keep that person in prison. The report says that monitoring by the NCHR found many women at Adiala Jail who had been granted bail, but remained incarcerated because they could not furnish the required surety payment. It argues that financial conditions attached to bail can effectively turn poverty into continued detention, particularly for people who lack legal representation, family support or access to money.

    The problem is significant in a prison system in which the overwhelming majority of inmates are still awaiting trial.

    Bail granted, freedom still out of reach

    The report’s findings challenge the assumption that reducing Pakistan’s prison population necessarily requires new prisons or major infrastructure projects. In Punjab, at least 113 prisoners were still behind bars after being granted bail, solely because they could not meet the financial conditions imposed for their release. Eleven of those prisoners were children.

    The report recommends that authorities identify every person being held after bail has been granted and replace unaffordable sureties with personal bonds or other proportionate conditions where appropriate. It also calls for legal assistance for people unable to secure their release and for courts to consider a person’s financial circumstances when imposing conditions.

    The findings are particularly significant for women and children, who can face additional barriers to securing sureties and legal representation.

    Prison population reaches 110,513 with 75% UTPs

    In the report launch in Islamabad on Thursday, October 8, JPP and NCHR representatives highlighted the key findings. One of them was the spike in the country’s prison population at 110,513, with three in every four prisoners awaiting trial. The project was supported by the European Union (EU).

    The report brings together the latest official data from across the country to provide a national picture of who is in Pakistan’s prisons, why they are there and where the system is under the greatest pressure. It provides an evidence base for policymakers, courts, oversight bodies, researchers and the public.

    Key findings from the 2026 report show that Pakistan’s prisons are operating at 160.6% of authorised capacity, holding 110,513 prisoners against space for approximately 68,832 — 41,681 more people than the system is designed to accommodate. Three in every four prisoners are awaiting trial: 82,988 people, or 75.09% of the national prison population, are under trial, and this population alone exceeds Pakistan’s total authorised prison capacity by 14,156 people.

    Drug-related imprisonment is another major driver of prison growth, with more than 28,000
    people held under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act (CNSA) — more than one
    quarter of the entire prison population — representing a 43.4% increase since 2023. The
    report also shows that prison growth is not an inevitability: while Punjab and Sindh continue
    to face sharp increases and severe overcrowding, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan
    have reduced their prison populations and remain within their overall authorised
    capacity, with greater use of probation, parole, diversion and other alternatives to
    imprisonment contributing to this trend. The pressure is also unevenly distributed across
    vulnerable groups. The number of women in prison has increased by 45.96% since 2024,
    while 86.2% of children in prison are awaiting trial. By contrast, Pakistan’s death-row
    population has fallen to 3,220, an 11.7% decline from 2024.

    “These are not just numbers. Behind every number is a person, a family and a life that has been disrupted,” said Sarah Belal, Executive Director of Justice Project Pakistan. “The purpose of this report is to give policymakers, criminal justice actors and donors the evidence they need to make better decisions, and to show that different approaches are possible. The tools we are launching alongside the report are about taking that evidence one step further: helping civil society and those working inside the system in their reform efforts.”

    Jeroen Willems, Head of Partnerships at the EU delegation to Pakistan said, “Today’s event is important becauseH how we manage our prisons is a reflection of how we treat people in our custody, as those are among the most vulnerable. This report highlights serious challenges, but also shows that progress is possible. The European Union is proud to support evidence-based reforms that strengthen access to justice and promote humane and rights-based approaches to imprisonment.”

    “The data is serious, but they also show that change is possible,” said Rabiya Javeri Agha, the NCHR Chairperson. “The task now is to turn these commitments into measurable reductions in unnecessary detention and improvements in
    conditions across Pakistan’s prisons.”

    Punjab has an alternative to prison, but barely uses it

    The report also points to a striking contradiction in Punjab’s criminal justice system: the province already has a large-scale mechanism for supervising people outside prison, yet makes very limited use of parole.

    In July 2026, around 39,358 people were under a court-ordered probation in Punjab, including 39,185 adults and 173 minors. The figure is equivalent to 57 per cent of Punjab’s prison population, demonstrating that non-custodial supervision is already operating at considerable scale. Probation allows eligible offenders to remain in the community under supervision rather than being imprisoned. Parole, however, remains severely underused.

    According to the report, Punjab released only seven prisoners on parole in 2024, compared with 1,605 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The disparity suggests that the issue is not simply whether alternatives to imprisonment exist, but whether provincial authorities actually use and adequately resource them. The report recommends strengthening Punjab’s probation system, including adequate staffing, rehabilitation and reintegration services, while substantially expanding appropriate use of parole.

    It also calls for the province to publish staffing levels, caseloads, successful completions and breaches so that the effectiveness of probation can be assessed.

    Thousands caught in civil proceedings

    The report identifies another category of imprisonment that receives considerably less attention: civil prisoners. Punjab had 2,996 people classified as civil prisoners, accounting for 4.36 per cent of its prison population. These prisoners are held in proceedings involving matters such as unpaid debts, family-maintenance obligations and enforcement of civil decrees rather than conventional criminal offences.

    The report raises concerns about the use of imprisonment in such cases, particularly where detention is linked to an inability to fulfil financial obligations. It notes that Article 11 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) prohibits imprisonment merely because a person is unable to fulfil a contractual obligation.

    The findings raise broader questions about the extent to which economic circumstances determine contact with Pakistan’s justice system.

    Nearly 10,000 kite-flying cases

    The report also points to the scale at which minor conduct can bring people into contact with the criminal justice system. In 2026, Punjab Police registered almost 10,000 kite-flying cases, resulting in a comparable number of arrests. The report uses the figure as an example of how criminal justice resources can be directed towards minor or non-violent conduct while prisons are already struggling to accommodate people accused of more serious offences.

    It argues that reducing unnecessary imprisonment requires not only changes to bail and sentencing, but also greater scrutiny of which conduct results in arrest and prosecution in the first place.

    Under-trial detention remains the backdrop

    The findings come against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding prison population. Pakistan’s prisons held 110,513 people in 2026, while approximately three-quarters of the prison population, or 82,988 people, were awaiting trial.

    The report says the under-trial population has risen from around 64 per cent in 2022 to 75.09 per cent in 2026. But the report’s provincial comparison suggests that incarceration levels are not fixed.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reduced its prison population from 13,364 in 2024 to 11,521 in 2026, a decline of 13.8 per cent. Balochistan also reduced its prison population by 7.3 per cent. The report attributes part of this difference to greater use of mechanisms including probation, parole, dispute resolution, juvenile diversion and judicial case reviews.

    The experience of these provinces, it says, demonstrates that prison populations can fall without relying exclusively on construction of new prison facilities.

    Drug cases remain difficult to divert

    One major obstacle is the continued scale of imprisonment under Pakistan’s narcotics laws. More than 28,000 people are imprisoned under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, accounting for more than one-quarter of the national prison population.

    The number of CNSA prisoners has increased by 43.4 per cent since 2023, considerably faster than overall prison growth. The report says restrictive bail and sentencing provisions introduced through the 2022 CNSA amendments have limited access to remission, probation and parole for many people accused under the law.

    The problem is also visible in KP, where the overall prison population declined but the number of prisoners held under the CNSA increased from 2,884 in 2023 to 3,086 in 2026. Of those, 2,707, or 87.7 per cent, were awaiting trial.

    The report argues that drug policy needs to distinguish between drug use, low-level possession and serious trafficking, with treatment, diversion and community-based responses considered where appropriate.

    Poverty can shape every stage of imprisonment

    Taken together, the findings suggest that economic disadvantage can influence a person’s experience of the criminal justice system at several stages. A person may be arrested for a relatively minor offence, remain in custody while a case proceeds, receive a bail order but be unable to afford the surety, and eventually face imprisonment despite the availability of community-based alternatives.

    The report also notes that Punjab’s probation system already supervises tens of thousands of people outside prison, while parole remains barely used.

    This creates a situation in which imprisonment is not necessarily the only available response, but can become the default when alternatives are not adequately applied. The report therefore recommends removing financial barriers to release, expanding legal aid, strengthening probation and parole, reviewing cases involving unnecessary detention and increasing the use of non-custodial measures.

    Building prisons will not solve the problem

    The report warns that prison construction alone cannot keep pace with the number of people entering Pakistan’s prison system. It points to the under-construction Islamabad Jail, expected to cost more than Rs7.4 billion and provide space for around 2,000 prisoners.

    That capacity is small compared with the more than 41,000 prisoners currently held above Pakistan’s authorised national prison capacity.

    For the report’s authors, the more immediate question is therefore not simply how many prison cells Pakistan can build, but how many people need to be imprisoned in the first place.

    The report calls for a shift towards affordable bail, legal aid, probation, parole, diversion and case review, alongside reforms to laws that disproportionately affect people accused of low-level or non-violent offences.

    Its findings suggest that reducing imprisonment could begin with people who are already legally eligible to be outside prison, but remain behind bars because they cannot afford to get there.

  • Pakistan’s prisons hold 152% above official capacity; Under-Trial Prisoners make up 73%: HRCP Report

    Pakistan’s prisons hold 152% above official capacity; Under-Trial Prisoners make up 73%: HRCP Report

    October 6, 2026

    By Aitzaz Ibrahim

    LAHORE

    Pakistan’s prisons remained severely overcrowded in 2024, with under-trial prisoners  (UTPs) accounting for around 73.41 percent of the country’s total prison population, according to a policy paper by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) titled Beyond the Prison Wall: Reducing Overcrowding in Pakistan’s Prisons. The report examines prison overcrowding, pre-trial detention, the bail system, and the use of probation and parole.
    According to the Prison Data Report 2024 published by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the average prison population across provinces and regions under Pakistan’s administration stood at 152.2 percent of official capacity in July-August 2024. The HRCP report says the proportion of UTPs increased from 66 percent in 2017 to 73.41 percent in 2024. It attributes the increase to ineffective bail mechanisms, lengthy judicial proceedings and the continued use of pre-trial detention.
    The report also identifies arbitrary arrests, slow investigations and delays in prosecution as factors contributing to the large number of under-trial prisoners. It says people can remain in pre-trial detention for months or even years.Punjab has faced particularly high levels of overcrowding. According to NCHR figures cited in the report, overcrowding in the province stood at 173.6 percent in 2024.
    Intensely overcrowded
    The situation has worsened further, with Punjab’s September 2026 figures showing 74,773 prisoners held in 45 prisons against a designated capacity of 39,204. This represents an overcrowding rate of 190.73 percent.Of the total prison population in Punjab, 54,932 were under-trial prisoners, including 52,847 men, 1,316 women and 769 juveniles.
    The HRCP report says authorities have taken steps to increase prison capacity, including the construction of new facilities. In Punjab, four new jails with a combined capacity of 2,268 inmates were reported to have been commissioned.

    During proceedings before the Lahore High Court in December 2024, the Punjab government stated that prison infrastructure had increased the province’s capacity to 37,563 inmates. Punjab had 43 prisons in 2024 after 13 new prisons were built since 2010. The report also says 140 new barracks and 928 additional death cells had been constructed since 2010. However, it adds that construction alone has not resolved the issue of overcrowding.

    In 2010, 52,803 prisoners were held in 32 prison facilities against a designated capacity of 21,527, while Punjab’s overcrowding rate was recorded at 146 percent. Figures cited from the World Prison Population List and the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research show that Pakistan had 78,938 prisoners in 2000, 75,586 in 2010, 80,169 in 2015, 80,145 in 2019 and 87,712 in August 2022.
    Similarly, the latest figures available for the province of Punjab as in September 2026 further illustrate the persistent problem of under-trial prisoners. The data shows that out of the total prison population of 74,773 in Punjab in September 2026 compared to 70,069; there were 54,932 under-trial inmates in September 2026 compared to 51,428 under-trial prisoners in September 2025 while the officially designated capacity for holding prisoners in all the 45 prisons in the province was put at 38,214 in 2025 and 39,204 for 2026.
    Official prison data for September 2025
    The report recommends reviewing the bail system to reduce unnecessary pre-trial detention. It proposes alternatives including personal recognizance, supervision and house arrest, and calls for courts to provide detailed reasons when extending remand.
    Press Statement

    Meanwhile a press statement released later on Tuesday by the HRCP called for reforms to address prison overcrowding. It called for urgent and systemic reforms to address chronic overcrowding in Pakistan’s prisons, warning that the crisis is not simply a matter of building more prisons but a symptom of deeper failures in the criminal justice system.

    The report is basically a policy paper that points out the grim numbers. According to official data from 2024, Pakistan’s prisons were operating at an average of 152 percent of their official capacity, with under-trial prisoners accounting for nearly three in every four inmates. Such overcrowding, the study argues, has serious consequences for prisoners’ rights, contributing to inadequate sanitation and healthcare, the spread of infectious diseases, mental health problems, violence, and diminished opportunities for rehabilitation.

    While the government has pointed to the construction of new prisons as evidence of progress, HRCP argues that expanding prison capacity cannot resolve the underlying causes of overcrowding. These include ineffective bail, excessive reliance on pre-trial detention, prolonged trials, limited use of probation and parole, and the incarceration of people accused or convicted of relatively minor offences.

    HRCP calls for a fundamental shift from incarceration towards liberty, rehabilitation and alternatives to imprisonment. Bail laws should be brought into line with the constitutional presumption of innocence, with the burden on police and prosecution to demonstrate why detention is necessary. Courts should exercise remand powers sparingly and provide reasons for detention, while statutory delays should be strictly enforced as grounds for bail. The government must also strengthen independent prosecution services, expand the use of diversion and alternatives to prosecution, and make probation and parole genuinely accessible.

  • 11-year-old boy killed over plot dispute; One suspect arrested

    11-year-old boy killed over plot dispute; One suspect arrested

    October 3, 2026

    By Hashir Ahsan

    ISLAMABAD

    An 11-year-old boy, Khurram Ali, was murdered over an old dispute regarding a pathway through a plot. The incident took place within the jurisdiction of Naseerabad Police Station in Rawalpindi.

    On the complaint of the victim’s father, the police have registered a case under murder provisions against the named accused, Kashif, and initiated an investigation.

    The complainant, Muhammad Bilal, stated in his initial report to the police that he is a resident of Nizami Town, Imtiaz Market, New Chakra, Rawalpindi, and earns a living by making and selling flower garlands. They own a plot in Nizami Town where they have set up a jhuggi (hut). The complainant has 4 children (2 sons and 2 daughters), with the eldest being Khurram Ali (aged approximately 10 to 11 years).

    FIR details

    On 01-10-2026, around 3:30 PM, the complainant’s wife Sadia Bibi, daughter Ramsha, and son Hasnain Ali had gone to Sadar Bazaar, Rawalpindi, for work, while his son Khurram Ali was home alone. Around 7:00 PM, while passing by the complainant’s house, his brothers-in-law, Rashid and Majid, informed him, “Come home quickly, there is a problem.”

    When the complainant reached home around 8:00 PM, his son Khurram Ali was lying dead on a charpoy inside the jhuggi. Rashid and Majid recounted that as they were passing by the jhuggi for work, they saw the accused, Kashif, running out of the jhuggi. Suspecting something amiss, they entered the jhuggi and found Khurram Ali dead, hung by a cloth noose attached to a wooden stick around his neck. They immediately brought the child down and placed him on the charpoy.

    Motive for the Murder

    According to the complainant, a few days prior, Kashif and others had blocked the pathway passing through their plot, leading to an altercation between the two parties. Due to this enmity, the accused, Kashif alias Kashu, unlawfully murdered their 11-year-old son Khurram Ali.

    Speaking to Voicepk, the victim’s maternal uncle stated that the police have arrested the accused. He shared that the accused was their neighbor and that a fight had taken place a few days before the incident, after which the accused threatened them with dire consequences. The uncle further mentioned that to protect the accused, his relatives are claiming he is mentally unstable, but in reality, he is completely fine and mentally sound.

    Police officials confirmed to Voicepk that the accused has been arrested and an initial investigation is underway. Police further stated that the victim’s autopsy report is still pending, after which the scope of the investigation will be expanded. According to the police, all evidence from the crime scene has been collected and will soon be sent to the laboratory for forensic examination.

    While the crime of murder is on the rise day by day in Pakistan, the conviction rate for such heinous crimes in the criminal justice system has dropped to an alarming level of merely 18 to 20 percent, whereas nearly 80 percent of the accused are acquitted by taking advantage of technical flaws and the unavailability of evidence.

    In a conversation with Voicepk, senior lawyer Amna Ali stated that the biggest reason behind this failure is the deficient and conventional mode of investigation by the police, which includes failing to secure the crime scene and relying solely on oral testimonies rather than forensic or scientific evidence. Apart from this, the lack of inter-departmental coordination between the prosecution and the police, the absence of an effective witness protection system, and the non-appearance of witnesses in court or contradictions in their statements are key factors that provide the benefit of doubt to the accused, leading to their acquittal.

    Following the strict enforcement of the principle of testimony evaluation, “Falsus in Uno, Falsus in Omnibus” (false in one thing, false in all), by the superior judiciary, the complainant party’s habit of unnecessarily nominating innocent individuals ends up saving the actual killer as well. Unless the pressure and compromise made under the law of Qisas and Diyat in the Pakistan Penal Code are addressed and investigations are completely grounded on scientific principles, improvement in the conviction rate is not possible.

    The shortcomings of this justice system can only be rectified by enhancing the capacity of the prosecution, providing modern training to investigating officers, and making the final scrutiny of the charge sheet (challan) by prosecutors mandatory before submitting it to the court.

  • Aaj TV ousts Peshawar Bureau Chief Farzana Ali following Munizae Jahangir’s removal

    Aaj TV ousts Peshawar Bureau Chief Farzana Ali following Munizae Jahangir’s removal

    October 2, 2026

    By Xari Jalil

    LAHORE

    Following the sudden removal of Munizae Jahangir as anchorperson of her talk show Spotlight on Aaj TV, the channel has now removed another senior journalist Farzana Ali from her position as Bureau Chief. The move came unexpectedly and has shocked the journalist community across the board, who view it as a form of censorship.

    Farzana herself tweeted on X on October 1 about not being able to ask the right questions:

     

    She acknowledged that journalist was not just her quest for truth it was also her livelihood.

    Thanking everyone for their support, she said, “Journalism is my bread and butter… I left my city Dera Ismail Khan for journalism… Even in the most difficult times, despite threats from terrorists, I never abandoned journalism and I never will. Yes, now there won’t be a TV screen…I had a 20-year-and-one-month association with Aaj News, which has ended today. I wish this association had ended in a normal way rather than due to any pressure… in one sense, it’s good because the unknown is no longer unknown…”

    Condemnations pour in

    Journalists, human rights activsts and others who found out abt the removal of Farzana Ali were quick to condemn the move by the TV channel.

    National Democratic Movement member Khushal Khan wrote on X:

    Khadim Hussain, Research consultant at Centre for Regional Policy and Dialogue, and Central Culture Secretary in Awami National Party (ANP) also commented.

    “It is extremely regrettable and condemnable that a brave and truth-speaking journalist like Farzana has been removed from her job in this manner,” commented journalist Matiullah Jan. “Farzana is a torchbearer for women journalists in Pakistan and also a pride of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

    Stand in solidarity with Farzana Ali, who started her career as a reporter and when I met her during the MMA (Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal) government in KP during General Musharraf’s regime, she was warned that if she continued to report she would be attacked,” said Munizae Jahangir, who herself has recently been removed in the same manner by Aaj TV. “So FarzanaAli was moved to the desk where she flourished and rose to be the only woman Bureau Chief in Pakistan of any TV channel at the time. She grew with Aaj & Aaj TV grew with her. Journalism is a noble profession and only those who speak truth to power earn their credibility.”
    “Absolutely shameful how a credible and reputed senior journalist like Farzana Ali, has been removed from her job at Aaj News,” said political leader Mohsin Dawar. “This will not stop her from reporting on Pakhtunkhwa and other issues of concern. We stand with her and express our solidarity.”

    In response to Farzana Ali’s removal, the Peshawer Press Club also issued a statement expressing ‘deep concern, regret, and strong condemnation’ over the dismissal.

    In the joint statement issued on Friday, President M. Riaz and General Secretary Alamgir Khan said that Farzana Ali was an experienced, courageous, and responsible journalist who has served the field of journalism professionally for a long time.

    “Her termination from employment is not only a matter of serious concern for media circles but also raises troubling questions regarding the job security of journalists,” said the statement. “The Peshawar Press Club stands with Ms. Farzana Ali and affirms that the dismissal of journalists is completely unacceptable under any circumstances.”

    They also stated that protecting the economic and professional rights of journalists working in media organizations was of utmost importance. The Peshawar Press Club demanded that the decision to terminate Farzana Ali be reconsidered and that the issue be resolved through mutual consultation and understanding.

    The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ also expressed serious concern over the lay off of Farzana Ali., raising serious alarm over the growing denial of freedom of expression in the country. PFUJ said that ongoing pressure on media management to lay off senior journalists and anchors, calling it unconstitutional and a direct violation of the right to work.

    PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari urged authorities to immediately cease such tactics intended to silence journalists.

    Calling the systematic attempt to stifle the press alarming, the PFUJ leaders demanded full protection for freedom of speech, reminding authorities: “You can silence a voice, but you cannot silence an entire community,” they said.

    Meanwhile, the Women Action Forum (Peshawar), and a collective called Feminist Fridays also issued a statement strongly condemning the removal.

    “The decision represents a serious setback for women’s leadership, equal representation, and gender justice in Pakistan’s media sector,” said the joint statement. “It raises urgent concerns about the continuing exclusion of women from decision-making roles in an industry that remains overwhelmingly male-dominated, particularly at senior editorial and managerial levels. Farzana Ali has been a visible, courageous, and independent voice in journalism. She has been the only woman serving as Bureau Chief for a major TV news channel in KP. Her presence in this role was not merely an individual professional achievement; it was an important milestone for women journalists across the province who continue to confront structural discrimination, unequal access to leadership opportunities, workplace insecurity, and persistent gender bias.

    Her leadership challenged long-standing barriers and demonstrated that women journalists are fully capable of leading newsrooms, shaping editorial priorities, reporting from difficult contexts, and contributing meaningfully to public discourse. Removing a woman of her standing from a senior leadership position risks eroding the limited gains women have made in media leadership and sends a deeply discouraging message to aspiring women journalists throughout Pakistan. Women’s representation in leadership must be expanded; not diminished.”

    The statement said that media organisations have a public responsibility to uphold the principles of equality, dignity, non-discrimination, and fair professional advancement within their own institutions and this included ensuring that women journalists are not sidelined, or excluded from leadership roles because of their gender, professional independence, or willingness to speak truth to power.

    WAF -Peshawar and Feminist Fridays called upon the management of Aaj News to reconsider the decision and ensure that it is not discriminatory or retaliatory in nature.

    They also asked for clarity and transparency regarding the circumstances surrounding Farzana Ali’s removal; Uphold fair, merit-based, and gender-responsive institutional policies for appointments, promotions, and leadership roles; Demonstrate a clear commitment to retaining, protecting, and advancing women journalists in editorial and managerial decision-making positions.

    The statement said that the media plays a fundamental role in shaping public opinion, advancing democratic values, and holding power to account. “It cannot credibly fulfil this role while reproducing exclusion and inequality within its own structures. Women journalists must not be treated as exceptions in leadership; they must be recognised as essential leaders, decision-makers, and equal contributors to Pakistan’s media landscape. We stand in unwavering solidarity with Farzana Ali and with all women journalists who continue to challenge discriminatory structures, defend independent journalism, and claim their rightful place in media leadership.”

    Career

    Farzana Ali entered journalism at a time when women were rarely being seen and heard in the news. She is best known as the first female Bureau Chief in KP for Aaj News. Over a career spanning more than 26 years, she has built a reputation as one of the most prominent female conflict reporters in South Asia.

    Farzana Ali has also become a crucial voice covering the post-9/11 War on Terror in KP and the Newly Merged Districts (formerly FATA). She personally reported from active conflict zones, including Bajaur and Waziristan.

    She has led live broadcasts and field reporting during critical security crises, major terror attacks (such as the 2008 Peepal Mandi and Qissa Khwani market bombings), counter-terrorism military operations (such as Operation Zarb-e-Azb), and the aftermath of the 2014 Army Public School (APS) massacre in Peshawar.

    She has reported directly from Afghanistan following political shifts and the Taliban takeover, navigating complex security challenges as a female journalist in the field.

    Beyond security conflict, her journalism has focused heavily on human rights, displaced persons (IDPs), missing persons, gender-based violence (GBV), and women’s political empowerment in KP.

  • “No Response Yet”: Silence on grave human rights violations Surrounding Forced Religious Conversions and Child Marriage of Minority Girls

    “No Response Yet”: Silence on grave human rights violations Surrounding Forced Religious Conversions and Child Marriage of Minority Girls

    October 2, 2026

    By Xari Jalil

    LAHORE

    Pakistan came under intense scrutiny at a UN Human Rights Council side-event on Friday, October 2, where top international experts and human rights rapporteurs slammed the severe gaps in enforcing domestic child protection laws, widespread judicial bias, and the unchecked abduction and forced conversion of minority girls.

    Speaking during the panel titled Concordia 1, UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues Professor Nicolas Levrat warned that new legislation alone will not resolve the crisis surrounding forced conversions and underage marriages. He pointed out that while Pakistan is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, enforcement remains deeply broken due to institutional bias toward the dominant religious group.

    Highlighting cases where families were forced to bounce from court to court without remedy, Prof. Levrat cautioned against blanket bans on forced religious conversions—noting that internationally, such specific laws are often weaponized against religious minorities. He instead urged Pakistani authorities to focus on technical cooperation, police training, and dismantling systemic bias within the legal pipeline.

    The panel featured testimonies from families of abducted Christian girls, including 13-year-old Maria Shahbaz, who remains in the custody of her 30-year-old abductor despite years of legal appeals. Human rights advocate Joseph Janssen, representing the Jubilee Campaign, detailed court proceedings where defence lawyers argued that converted minors could not be returned to their Christian families under the pretext of apostasy laws, effectively overriding basic child protection frameworks.

    In addition, legal experts online raised concerns over how child marriage directly maps to contemporary forms of slavery:

    • Slavery Frameworks: Dr. Katarina Schwarz, UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, stressed that child marriage constitutes exploitation and state obligation requires preventative, effective protection rather than inaction.

    • Provincial Gaps: UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women Reem Alsalem acknowledged the passage of Punjab’s Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026—which set the legal marriage age at 18 and made cohabitation with a minor child abuse—but cited deeply inconsistent judicial application and severe police pressure on victims’ families to withdraw complaints.

    • Judicial Delay: Christophe Foltzenlogel of the European Centre for Law and Justice criticized the disproportionate focus on protecting property over human lives, contrasting the handling of minor abductions with high-pressure blasphemy trials involving minors such as Shahzad Masih.

    Panellists noted that formal UN communications regarding systemic discrimination against non-Muslim women and girls in Pakistan have so far yielded no official response from Pakistani authorities, calling on Islamabad to move beyond symbolic commitments and ensure immediate protective custody for victims.

    According to data from Jubilee Campaign’s Stolen Girls report presented at the session, the crisis is striking increasingly younger victims. The study documented over 210 cases of minor Christian girls abducted across Pakistan, revealing that the average age of victims is just 12.8 years old.

    Punjab remains the primary hotspot for these incidents. Janssen pointed out that abductors systematically exploit legal loopholes—using threats of “apostasy” charges against Christian parents to intimidate courts into keeping converted minors away from their biological families, effectively legalizing child exploitation.

    Three of the cases highlighted included Maria Shahbaz, who was abducted in 2020 at age 13 by a 30-year-old married man. Despite international advocacy (including resolutions in the European Parliament and UN appeals), she remains in the custody of her alleged captor while cases drag through the court system.

    Another case highlighted was that of Amber Nadeem, a more recent case highlighted by Janssen where court officials and lawyers actively pushed aside her status as a minor during legal proceedings, prioritizing her purported conversion.

  • Violence from terrorism spikes by 83% in Pakistan as security reaches worst level since 2021: CRSS report

    Violence from terrorism spikes by 83% in Pakistan as security reaches worst level since 2021: CRSS report

    October 2, 2026

    By Hashir Ahsan

    ISLAMABAD

    According to the third quarter of the 2026 security report released by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), a sensational surge of 83 percent has been recorded in casualties linked to terrorism and counter-terrorism operations in Pakistan.

    The report reveals that the declining trend in violence and fatalities observed in the first and second quarters of the year has now completely ended, and the country’s security situation has experienced its most alarming intensity since 2021.

    The primary driver behind this nationwide increase is the southwestern province of Balochistan, where the number of fatalities more than tripled. Balochistan contributed nearly 88 percent to the overall national increase and surpassed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to earn the painful distinction of becoming the country’s most affected region in terms of both total recorded violent incidents and fatalities.

    The report’s statistics show that nearly three-fourths of the nationwide increase in fatalities during the third quarter comprised anti-state elements and terrorists, whose casualties more than doubled in security operations. On the other hand, however, overall fatalities among civilians and security personnel also saw a significant increase of approximately 54 percent, indicating that the impact of security challenges was felt equally and devastatingly across all sides.

    Statistics

    Taking a comprehensive look at the overall figures, during the third quarter of 2026, CRSS recorded a total of at least 385 violent incidents involving terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations, resulting in 1,415 fatalities and 558 injuries. In terms of regional impact and geographical distribution, southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained the primary epicenters of domestic violence.

    Together, these two provinces accounted for 98 percent of all violence-related fatalities, with Balochistan recording nearly 59 percent of total deaths (829 individuals), while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded over 39 percent (556 fatalities).

    Balochistan also recorded the highest number of violent incidents during the third quarter at 186 incidents (over 48 percent of the total), followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 173 incidents (nearly 45 percent).

    However, in terms of injuries, KP topped the list with 376 injured individuals (over 67 percent of total injuries), whereas 163 individuals (over 29 percent) were injured in Balochistan. Compared to the previous quarter, there was a dramatic 83 percent increase in terrorism and response operations nationwide, with fatalities rising from 774 in Q2 to 1,415 in Q3. The core reason for this was an extraordinary jump of 213 percent in Balochistan, where deaths increased from 265 to 829.

    In Balochistan, fatalities had previously decreased by 40 percent in the second quarter compared to the first quarter (from 443 down to 265). Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also witnessed an increase of over 17 percent during Q3, with fatalities rising from 475 to 556.

    In other regions, fatalities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) rose from 5 to 10, reflecting a 100 percent increase, while fatalities in Punjab decreased from 12 to 8 (a 33 percent decline), in Sindh from 14 to 12 (a 14 percent decline), and in Gilgit-Baltistan from 3 down to zero, representing a 100 percent reduction.

    An analysis of victim categorization reveals that the largest portion of reported fatalities—over 65 percent (921 deaths)—consisted of militants and outlawed elements who were killed as a result of around 154 operations by security forces, while their share in injuries was only 5 percent (27 injured).

    Civilians ranked second with 254 fatalities (18 percent) and security personnel third with 240 fatalities (17 percent), falling victim to 145 (38 percent) and 86 (22 percent) terrorist attacks, respectively. During this period, 284 civilians (51 percent) and 247 security personnel (44 percent) were injured.

    Emerging trends

    Six key security trends emerge from these statistics. The first and most significant aspect is the 103 percent increase in militant fatalities, rising from 453 in Quarter 2 to 921 in Quarter 3; out of the total additional 641 casualties nationwide, 468 were terrorists, accounting for three-fourths of the entire increase.

    The second trend shows that civilian and security force fatalities also increased by 36 percent (187 to 254) and 79 percent (134 to 240), respectively, pushing their combined loss of life up by 54 percent from 321 to 494. The third trend indicates that 95 percent of the injury burden (531 individuals) was borne by civilians and security forces, with civilians making up more than half.

    Fourth, compared to only 5 percent of terrorists being injured, their heavy death toll highlights the extraordinarily decisive and intense nature of the security operations. Fifth, there was a massive 111 percent increase (117 to 247) in injuries among security forces, whereas civilian injuries rose by 39 percent (205 to 284), meaning the rate of injuries among security forces grew much faster.

    Sixth and finally, security personnel fatalities (240) drew extremely close to civilian fatalities (254), leaving a gap of only 14 deaths between them, whereas in Q2 this
    difference stood at 53 fatalities.

    Responsibility for attacks, tactics, and emerging technological challenges

    Among the banned and terrorist organizations claiming responsibility for attacks, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) emerged as the most lethal and formidable group in Quarter 3 2026, claiming 13 attacks that resulted in 117 deaths and 65 injuries. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for five attacks that killed 34 people and injured 42.

    Meanwhile, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group claimed three attacks resulting in 27 deaths and 129 severe injuries, marking the highest number of injuries caused by any single group’s attacks.

    Historically, attacks claimed by TTP since 2021 have caused higher fatalities compared to BLA (706 versus 650); however, in the overall record for 2026 so far, BLA has held the upper hand over TTP, with its attacks resulting in 173 deaths compared to 165 fatalities linked to TTP. A granular examination of these terrorist activities by tactic reveals a stark contrast between methods that caused higher fatalities and those that resulted in higher injuries. Nine Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) suicide attacks affected 285 people in total—with 81 deaths and 204 injuries—representing the largest total casualties of any tactic, far exceeding the 35 casualties caused by three other suicide bombings.

    In contrast, armed attacks caused the highest number of fatalities, with 61 distinct incidents resulting in 147 deaths and 116 injuries. Direct firing and shooting incidents proved exceptionally lethal, with 58 events reporting 72 deaths and only 18 injuries—meaning four people were killed for every one injured. Additionally, 30 cases involving mutilated or recovered bodies resulted in 77 deaths, while a single incident of target killing following abduction claimed 31 lives with no injuries reported. A new and deeply concerning dimension emerged in the form of drone attacks, where the proportion of injuries far outweighed fatalities; 16 drone attacks resulted in 13 deaths and 48 injuries, meaning nearly four people were injured for every single fatality.

    Vehicle suicide blasts and drone attacks technically demonstrated how modern violent tactics are disproportionately causing heavy numbers of injuries and disabilities.

  • In-laws murder woman, main suspect arrested; Daughters rescued by police

    In-laws murder woman, main suspect arrested; Daughters rescued by police

    Sept 29, 2026

    By Hashir Ahsan

    ISLAMABAD

    Abducted on September 12 from her home in Dhoke Jhang on Adiala Road, Rawalpindi, Nabila Shaheen, a 28 year old married woman was murdered and buried in a pit to conceal evidence, police officials told Voicepk. The main suspect – the woman’s brother in law Waseem – has been arrested, after which the police recovered the body and transferred it to the hospital for a post-mortem examination. Nabila’s two daughters – both minors – who were abducted along with her were also safely rescued by the police.

    Police revealed that the suspect’s intentions were to kill the two minor girls as well, but they were saved due to timely action. according to initial investigation, the accused, who is the brother of the woman’s husband, had abducted Nabeela due to a property dispute and prior litigation.

    According to police, teams have been formed and raids are still being conducted to arrest the suspect’s other accomplices, while the FIR for the woman’s abduction has been registered at the Sadar Bairuni Police Station on the complaint of her brother. Police added that charges of murder, among other relevant sections, have now also been added to the case.

    FIR details

    According to the complainant, Nabeel Javed, his sister Nabila Shaheen, had been living in Dhoke Jhang area near Adiala Jail ever since her marriage. On September 12, 2026, when an attempt was made to contact his sister, she could not be reached. Upon reaching her house he found that his sister Nabila Shaheen and her daughter Shafah Noor were not present at home. Despite searching extensively he could find no trace of them.

    Nabeel stated in the FIR, that his sister had been abducted by an unknown person or persons acting together with the intent of committing adultery/unlawful intercourse. The applicant requested that his sister be rescued and strict legal action be taken against the culprits.

    Nabeel accused Nabeel’s in laws of killing her. According to the complainant, his brother-in-law had also gone missing a few months ago, and an FIR for that had also been registered.

    He said his sister’s in-laws frequently picked fights with her, over her husband’s property, demanding that it be transferred to their names. He said prior to this, his sister had also been subjected to physical violence, regarding which a case was filed. Nabeel Javed stated that currently only one suspect, her brother-in-law Waseem, has been arrested by the police, but the family’s demand was that the four other suspects, including the mother-in-law, should also be arrested.

    Violence and attempted murder

    Prior to the murder, Nabila Shaheen, had submitted a written application stating that her husband Abbas had been missing for the past four months.

    The FIR was registered at the Sadar Bairuni Police Station, Rawalpindi District, on charges of domestic violence, illegal confinement, and death threats.

    She said that on the night of June 27, at around 11:00 PM, her in-laws knocked at her room door and when she came out, they attacked her, beating her up severely and tearing her clothes, while her daughters (aged four years and one year) were also present. She said she had been tied to a chair and subjected to torture, resulting in severe injuries to the left side of her head and other parts of her body.

    Nabeela said that her brothers-in-law Ameer Asad and Ameer Waseem, her mother-in-law Shameem, and others locked her in a room/storefront, tied her hands and feet, and tortured her.

    The suspects leveled false allegations of an extramarital affair with her husband’s friend against the complainant and forcibly checked her mobile phone data and call records. The application also alleged that the suspects forcibly recorded a video to show it to her husband in order to illegally seize the car and the house. Following this, her husband’s brothers and in-laws, including Shameem, Qudsia, Waseem, Waqas, Asghar, and Qasim, threatened to kill her while brandishing pistols and batons.

     

  • Imaan, Hadi finally produced in ATC via Video Link after 248 days; Trial set in new case

    Imaan, Hadi finally produced in ATC via Video Link after 248 days; Trial set in new case

    Sept 29, 2026

    By Hashir Ahsan

    ISLAMABAD

    The hearing of the case against Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali over alleged violence against police and protocol violations at Zero Point, was finally conducted by the Anti-Terrorism Court with Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra.

    After 248 days, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta were presented before the ATC via video link, while their lawyers Riyasat Ali Azad and Zainab appeared in court physically.

    Copies of the charge-sheet (Challan) in the case were provided to the lawyers of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta. Charges will be framed against Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta on the next hearing.

    Setting October 6 as the date for framing charges, the court adjourned the hearing. The case against Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta is registered at Secretariat Police Station.

    During the hearing, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta were provided a video link connection through an official’s mobile phone instead of the LED screen installed in the courtroom. On the occasion of the hearing, a dialogue took place between Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra and Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta.

    Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra inquired, “How is your health? Is there any trouble or worry?” Imaan Mazari replied, “I am absolutely fine.” Meanwhile, Advocate Hadi Ali Chatta responded, “I have become a diabetes patient.”

    On this occasion, Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra turned the mobile phone toward the lawyers present in the courtroom. Seeing the lawyers, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta expressed their gratitude to all and waved their hands to greet the lawyers and journalists present in the courtroom.

    Imaan and Hadi said, “We thank all friends, media persons, and lawyers.” Conversing with them, Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra stated, “They have submitted your bail application today. Hope you will also be present here on the next hearing.” Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra further added, “We are giving you copies in this case today; charges will be framed on the next hearing.”

    Contempt of Court proceedings ended against Adiala Jail Superintendent

    Meanwhile, Judge Sipra also heard the petition filed regarding the lack of signatures on power of attorney forms (Wakalatnama) of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta, in which Riyasat Ali Azad along with other lawyers appeared in court on behalf of the clients of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali. After the hearing, the court formally disposed of the petition filed regarding the power of attorney forms of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta.

    During the hearing, lawyers informed that the power of attorney forms were finally signed, upon which the court dropped the contempt of court proceedings initiated against jail authorities.

    Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra gave clear directions to the Jail Superintendent to frame rules regarding getting signatures on power of attorney forms. During the hearing, Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra remarked that if this is the treatment meted out to lawyers, what must be the state of power of attorney forms of ordinary litigants.

    Judge Sipra further added that earlier people used to get power of attorney forms signed sometimes in the lock-up (Bakhshi Khana) and sometimes in vehicles; however, the formulation of SOPs has brought great benefit, but glitches still occur here and there, whereas the first path to the provision of justice begins right from the signing of the power of attorney.

    During the hearing, Advocate Zainab informed the court that the High Court has already prepared formal SOPs in this regard, therefore jail authorities should refrain from turning this legal process into a punishment.

    Bail application filed for Imaan and Hadi in protest case

    Important progress has been made on the bail applications of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta in connection with the protest case registered at Kohsar Police Station in the Anti-Terrorism Court Islamabad. Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the case, during which formal notices were issued on the bail applications of both accused. Issuing notices to all parties, the court fixed October 5 as the date for further hearing and arguments on the case, and directed the parties to present their respective arguments on the set date.

    During the hearing, Shireen Mazari took the stance that Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatta were presented after opening the court late at night, to which Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain clarified that the court was not opened especially at night; rather, it was already doing its work, and when the court was informed that the remand of the accused was coming, they remained present and seated solely on that account.

     

  • ‘Every harassment is not a sexual harassment’: FCC narrows scope of 2010 workplace law

    ‘Every harassment is not a sexual harassment’: FCC narrows scope of 2010 workplace law

    Sept 29, 2026

    By Ahmed Saeed

    ISLAMABAD

     

    The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 covers only harassment of a sexual nature, expressly disagreeing with the previous Supreme Court judgements that had treated other forms of workplace harassment as actionable before the Federal Ombudsperson.

    The FCC gave the judgement while hearing an appeal filed against the Islamabad High Court (IHC) judgement that had restored the Federal Ombudsman’s decision imposing the major penalty of compulsory retirement on two National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) employees, Usman Shahid and Aqeel Abbas, in a workplace harassment case.

    A three-member FCC bench comprising Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Syed Arshad Hussain Shah allowed petitions filed by Usman Shahid and Aqeel Abbas and set aside the IHC judgement dated Dec 31, 2024.

    The 18-page judgement, authored by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, examined the scope of the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, particularly the definition of harassment under Section 2(h), as well as the extent to which a high court can interfere with orders passed by statutory authorities.

    According to the FCC, the definition contained in Section 2(h) was exhaustive rather than extensive.

    . “An act, conduct or attitude has to be sexual in nature, if it is to be covered under the definition of harassment for the purpose of this act,” it added.

    The case originated when an NBP employee, Nadia Sarwar, filed a complaint before the Federal Ombudsman on Sept 3, 2013 under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, alleging workplace harassment against Usman Shahid and Aqeel Abbas.

    The complaint was allowed and Usman Shahid and Aqeel Abbas were awarded the major penalty of compulsory retirement under Section 4(4)(ii)(b) of the Act.

    The two men challenged the Ombudsman’s decision before the President of Pakistan. Their representations were accepted to the extent that the compulsory retirement order was set aside, while the NBP was directed to award them the penalty of censure under Section 4(4)(i)(a) of the Act.

    Sarwar then challenged the President’s order before the Islamabad High Court. The IHC set aside the President’s order and restored the Ombudsman’s decision.

    Before the FCC, the petitioners challenged the IHC judgement, arguing, among other things, that the high court had exceeded the permissible scope of its constitutional jurisdiction.

    The FCC agreed with the petitioners on the scope of judicial review by the high court.

    “The scope of the High Court to interfere under the constitutional jurisdiction is only where the orders were passed based upon non-reading or misreading of evidence, without reappraisal of evidence, findings are erroneous assumption of facts, misapplication of law, exercise of excess or abuse of jurisdiction and arbitrary exercise of powers,” the judgement states.

    The court further stated that proving sexual harassment required credible material and evidence capable of surviving scrutiny.

    “To prove a sexual harassment, a bare minimum requirement is the impartial, credible material, capable of surviving the test of reasonableness and it must be reinforced with convincing/independent evidence,” the judgement states.

    The FCC also drew a distinction between conduct that may generally be described as harassment and conduct that constitutes actionable harassment under the 2010 Act.

    “It can, therefore, be safely said that any misdemeanour, behaviour or conduct unbecoming of an employee at the workplace towards other employee or an employer, or from an employer to an employee or an employee to an employer in an organization may be generically classified as harassment but is not an actionable act per-se under the Act, 2010 unless such behavior or conduct is inherently demonstrated or demonstrable of its sexual nature,” the court held.

    The judgement further stated that even serious or damaging workplace behaviour would not fall within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsperson under the Act unless it had a sexual character.

    The court set out the distinction in plain terms. “Undoubtedly, every sexual harassment is a harassment but every harassment is not a sexual harassment,” it held.

    The FCC also addressed previous judicial interpretations that had treated non-sexual harassment as actionable under the Act.

    It noted that earlier judgements of the Supreme Court, including those in the Nadia Naz, Raja Tanveer Safdar and Muhammad Din cases, had adopted broader interpretations of harassment. The FCC expressly disagreed with the observation that every form of workplace harassment could be dealt with under the 2010 Act.

    “With due respect to the view of Supreme Court we do not agree with this observation well within our powers under Article 189 of the Constitution on the basis of the very definition of sexual harassment under Section 2(h),” the judgement states.

    The FCC explained that the purpose of the 2010 law was to provide women with a safe and smooth working environment by protecting their honour, modesty and respect because of their gender.

    It added that the legislation could not be extended to matters falling outside its specific purpose, observing that “a special law is for special situations if attracted and cannot be applied in the general context.”

    The judgement also examined the powers of the President in dealing with representations against orders of the Ombudsperson.

    It noted that Section 9 of the 2010 Act allows an aggrieved person to make a representation to the President or governor within 30 days of an Ombudsperson’s decision. The President or governor is empowered to pass an order on such a representation.

    The FCC referred to earlier cases concerning the exercise of presidential powers and held that the President’s order in the case could not be interfered with by the High Court as a matter of routine through writ jurisdiction.

    The court observed that the President’s exercise of quasi-judicial powers was subject to judicial review in appropriate circumstances, but such powers could not be treated as though the High Court was exercising ordinary appellate jurisdiction.

    The FCC ultimately concluded that the IHC had exceeded the permissible scope of its constitutional jurisdiction by effectively reassessing the material before the statutory authorities.

    The court consequently set aside the IHC judgment and reinstated the order passed by the President.