QUETTA (HRNW) – A stark revelation regarding the prison system in Balochistan has emerged, exposing severe overcrowding across three major jails where the inmate population has dramatically exceeded official capacity, triggering complex administrative and logistical challenges. According to official data provided by the Balochistan Prisons Department, while the province’s 12 operational prisons house a collective total of approximately 3,000 inmates, certain facilities are crammed with up to twice their designated limits.
Authorities specified that the historic District Jail Quetta, established back in 1939, has an official sanctioned capacity of only 472 prisoners but is currently forced to hold nearly 1,100 inmates. Similarly, District Jail Dera Murad Jamali is severely strained, housing over 250 prisoners against its designated capacity of a mere 120. Furthermore, Central Jail Gadani, which was constructed in 2002 to accommodate 223 prisoners, is currently overburdened with nearly 400 inmates.
Sources within the provincial administration disclosed that the Government of Balochistan had previously drafted a comprehensive plan to construct modern Central Prisons in Gwadar, Kalat, and Pishin to alleviate this systemic burden. However, due to a severe lack of funds and financial constraints, practical development work on these critical infrastructure projects has yet to commence.
Human rights experts and legal analysts have raised serious concerns over these findings, cautioning that such extreme overcrowding not only directly compromises the basic human rights of the incarcerated individuals but also poses a critical challenge to prison security, institutional discipline, and the overall operational efficiency of the jail staff.
Stand Up for Human Rights – Support Our Cause!
Help HRNW, the world’s No. 1 human rights portal. Click on the link below to support our mission in raising a voice for the oppressed and promoting human rights globally:
