Can a legal tradition built centuries ago speak to one of today’s most urgent human rights debates? Justice Project Pakistan brought together Islamic scholars, legal experts, academics, and diplomatic representatives to launch its policy brief, Capital Punishment in Islam. Developed with the support of the @EUPakistan, the policy brief sets out how Islamic jurisprudence and international human rights law converge on the right to life, mercy, the requirement of public interest, and what that convergence could mean for death penalty reform in Pakistan. Watch the highlights from the launch event and read the brief here: jpp.org.pk/wp-content/upload… #CapitalPunishment #IslamAndHumanRights #DeathPenaltyReform #JusticeProjectPakistan

“Islamic law is adaptable to any framework that does not directly conflict with the limits it prescribes; this includes international human rights law and other modern developments in legal systems", remarked Professor Dr. Sami ur Rehman, the lead author of our policy brief titled "Capital Punishment in Islam", at the launch event. Islamic criminal justice places more emphasis on the sanctity of life than punishment. The Qur'an permits the taking of life only where it is authorised by law, imposed by a competent judicial authority, and preceded by due process, and withheld wherever legally material doubt remains. These principles are not foreign to international human rights law; they converge with it on the right to life, fair trial, mercy, and the protection of the vulnerable. The policy brief, supported by @EUPakistan, brings these principles together in a practical framework for reform, grounded in both traditions. Read the brief: jpp.org.pk/wp-content/upload… #PrisonReform #IslamAndCapitalPunishment #PakistanPrisons #JusticeProjectPakistan

Justice Project Pakistan, in collaboration with @nchrofficial and with the support of the @EUPakistan, launched the Pakistan Prison Data Report 2026 and three prison reform action tools in Islamabad. The report shows that Pakistan’s prisons now hold 110,513 people in facilities designed for approximately 68,832, with the system operating at 160.6% of authorised capacity. It also shows that 82,988 people, or 75.09% of the national prison population, are under trial, making excessive under-trial detention the largest single driver of pressure on prisons. Launched alongside the report, the Gap Analysis of Provincial Prison Rules, Policy Brief on Reducing Prison Overcrowding, and Detention Monitoring Toolkit translate this evidence into practical reform. The event brought together government representatives, prison authorities, human rights institutions, development partners, legal experts, civil society and the media for high-level discussions on overcrowding, overincarceration of under-trial prisoners, and women and children in detention, moderated by senior journalist and news anchor @AbsaKomal. From evidence to implementation, the task now is to reduce unnecessary imprisonment, strengthen oversight and protect the rights and dignity of persons deprived of liberty. Read the full report here: jpp.org.pk/wp-content/upload… @UNDP_Pakistan @UNODCPakistan #AnnualPakistanPrisonDataReport2026 #Pakistan #PrisonReform #JusticeProjectPakistan

The brief argues that death penalty reform in Pakistan need not be framed as a choice between Islam and human rights. It can instead be grounded in principles recognised by both: protection of life, justice, restraint, mercy and the prevention of irreversible injustice. The launch brought together senior delegation from @EUPakistan , academics, policymakers, and the media. #WorldDayAgainstDeathPenalty #PolicyBrief #JusticeProjectPakistan #EU

The policy brief was then launched through a moderated discussion between Sarah Belal and Prof. Dr. Sami Ur Rehman, author of the brief and Dean of Riffat Mushtaq School of Law at IVY Academic Network Islamabad. They discussed the brief’s key findings and recommendations, including how Islamic principles of sanctity of life, mercy, due process, evidentiary certainty and protection against wrongful execution can support a more restrictive death penalty framework.

In commemoration of World Day Against the Death Penalty, Justice Project Pakistan launched the Policy Brief "Capital Punishment in Islam". The brief is commissioned by JPP, with the support of the @EUPakistan , and led by Professor Dr. Sami ur Rehman. The launch opened with a welcome note by @SarahBelal_ - Executive Director of JPP, followed by opening remarks from H.E. Mr Raimundas Karoblis, the Ambassador of @EUPakistan . #WorldDayAgainstDeathPenalty #JusticeProjectPakistan #CapitalPunishment #PolicyBrief

We continue to push for sustained prison reform in Pakistan through data-backed research and practical, rights-based recommendations that offer policymakers a clear path forward. View our Annual Prison Data Report 2026 and three other prison reform action tools here: drive.google.com/drive/folde… *These publications are produced with the support of @EUPakistan . #PrisonDataReport2026 #PrisonReform #JusticeProjectPakistan

At the launch of Annual Prison Data Report 2026, three high-level panels with key stakeholders, moderated by senior journalist @AbsaKomal , discussed the report's findings and recommendations. They explored prison overcrowding, overincarceration of undertrial prisoners, and the detention of women and children in Pakistan's prisons. @EUPakistan @nchrofficial #PrisonDataReport2026 #PrisonReform #JusticeProjectPakistan