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We work at the intersection of human rights and criminal justice, tackling the systemic injustices that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable segments of society. Through strategic litigation, data-driven policy advocacy and public education, we challenge unjust laws and practices — from punitive drug policies to arbitrary detention and the death penalty. At the heart of our mission is a commitment to dignity and justice, amplifying the voices of marginalized individuals while working to ensure legal systems and governance structures uphold both constitutional protections and international human rights standards.
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We advocate for transformative change in Pakistan’s criminal justice system by combining legal action, policy reform, public education, and human-centered storytelling. Our work is rooted in the belief that justice must be both strategic and compassionate—grounded in evidence, but driven by empathy.
From defending individuals facing the harshest punishments, including the death penalty and life imprisonment, to exposing systemic injustices like prison overcrowding, criminalization of drug use, and the marginalization of mentally ill prisoners, we adopt a multidisciplinary approach that blends law, research, advocacy, and creative communication.
We collaborate with communities, families, legal institutions, and government bodies to push for reforms that are both achievable and long-lasting. Our campaigns harness the power of storytelling to shift narratives, reduce stigma, and center the lived experiences of those most affected by injustice.
Ultimately, our goal is to build a justice system that is dignified, equitable, and accountable—one that treats every person not as a statistic, but as a human being deserving of care, rights, and a fair chance.
Our mission is to confront injustices within the criminal justice system. We advocate for systemic reforms that prioritize human rights.
Championing the rights of marginalized communities through targeted legal action and public awareness campaigns.
Addressing critical issues like mental health, juvenile justice, and prison conditions for lasting change.
Become an advocate for justice and support our initiatives to create a fairer system.
We tackle systemic issues in the criminal justice system through targeted advocacy.
Explore >We fight against the death penalty, advocating for humane alternatives.
Learn >We advocate for the rights and treatment of mentally illinmates.
Act >Our work spans critical areas of criminal justice reform. We tackle issues that affect the most vulnerable populations.
Challenging capital punishment through advocacy and casework.
Advocating for the rights of mentally ill prisoners.
Protecting children's rights in the justice system.
Our work spans critical areas of criminal justice reform. We tackle issues that affect the most vulnerable populations.
Reducing the scope of the death penalty through advocacy, public awareness and casework.We challenge Pakistan’s broad application of capital punishment, particularly in cases involving juveniles, mental illness, and unfair trials. Through strategic litigation and policy reform, we aim to move the justice system toward rehabilitation over retribution.
Advocating for the rights of prisoners with physical and psychosocial disabilities.Many prisoners with disabilities face neglect, isolation, and abuse in detention. We work to ensure access to proper medical care, legal protections, and humane treatment—pushing for policy changes that recognize disability rights as human rights.
Protecting children’s rights in the justice system.Children in conflict with the law are especially vulnerable to abuse, wrongful convictions, and lifelong trauma. We defend juvenile detainees, advocate for diversion and rehabilitation programs, and work to align national laws with international child protection standards.
Explore our recent press features and interviews.
Press
3 min read
The article covers a national conference by NCHR, EU, and UNDP calling for systemic reforms to make Pakistan’s justice system more inclusive and accessible. Key leaders emphasized equal rights and dignity for marginalized groups.
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Press
3 min read
The article reports on Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar’s advocacy for integrating technology into Pakistan’s legal system to enhance accessibility and fairness. He highlighted the adoption of the “Vakeel Online” platform by the Legal Aid and Justice Authority (LAJA) to connect citizens with registered lawyers, emphasizing the importance of multilingual support and collaboration with civil society.
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Opinion
3 min read
The article titled “Prison Reform” by Arslan Mehndi Nekokara, published in The Nation, discusses the enduring challenges within Pakistan’s prison system, highlighting its colonial-era origins and the minimal progress made toward meaningful reform.
Read more >Exploring the complexities of capital punishment
Imdad Ali is 50-year-old former electrician from Vehari, who has been in prison for nearly 16 years. Sentenced to death in 2001 over a shooting, Imdad has spent 14 years on death row. psychiatrist at the prison has deemed him a “treatment-resistant case.”
No Time to Sleep is a powerful and immersive performance piece by Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) that charts the last 24 hours of a death row prisoner’s life before his imminent execution.
The piece follows the emotional and psychological turmoil faced by prisoners in their final hours, highlighting the profound human cost of capital punishment. Performed in real-time over a continuous 24-hour period, the project draws attention to the mental and emotional strain endured by death row inmates, their families, and even prison staff.
Kaniza Bibi was sentenced to death in 1989 at the age of 16 for the alleged murder of her employer’s wife. Her conviction was based on a confession extracted under torture, despite evidence of abuse and the fact that she was a juvenile.
While on death row, Kaniza developed severe schizophrenia and spent years in solitary confinement with little medical care. Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) took up her case, highlighting the legal and human rights violations. Her story became a symbol of the flaws in Pakistan’s justice system and the need for reform.
Police torture is endemic and systematic in Pakistan. Through its research and through representing victims of torture, the Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) has observed that: torture is accepted as an inevitable part of law enforcement in Pakistan, and perpetrators of torture are granted impunity through a combination of socio-cultural acceptance, lack of independent oversight, widespread powers of arrest and detention, procedural loopholes and ineffective safeguards, including Pakistan’s failure to criminalize torture despite being a signatory of the UN Convention Against Torture.
Survivors’ Stories features interviews and first-hand narratives of victims of Pakistan’s state inflicted torture. Police Reform features expert legal analysis and interviews with state officials about the need and avenues for reform in policing practices. Resources features the relevant published research conducted by JPP. Finally, Media Watch and World News feature a collection of news stories concerning torture at home and abroad
Our research publications on capital punishment serve as critical tools in advocating for justice reform. Through rigorous documentation and evidence-based analysis, these reports highlight systemic flaws in sentencing practices, document the experiences of vulnerable defendants, and propose practical frameworks for reform that align with Pakistan's obligations under international human rights law. Our publications provide key stakeholders with data-driven insights that support strategic litigation, inform policy dialogue, and strengthen safeguards for at-risk populations within the criminal justice system.
Learn MoreOur commitment to juvenile justice ensures that children in conflict with the law are treated with dignity and respect. We advocate for policies that prioritize rehabilitation over punishment, recognizing the unique needs of young individuals. Children are often more vulnerable to coercion, wrongful convictions, and harsh sentencing due to inadequate legal protections and limited access to competent representation.
We work to strengthen legal safeguards for children by pushing for age-appropriate sentencing, improved access to diversion programs, and alternatives to detention, such as community service and restorative justice practices. Our team provides direct legal representation to juveniles, ensuring their rights are upheld during trial and detention. We also engage with policymakers and child protection authorities to reform juvenile justice laws and improve detention conditions, focusing on education, mental health support, and reintegration into society. By addressing the root causes of juvenile offending and promoting rehabilitative approaches, we aim to create a justice system that nurtures rather than punishes young lives.
JPP conducts thorough research to understand the impact of drug policies on incarcerated individuals. Our studies highlight the urgent need for reform in the current punitive framework.
Analyzing the effects of drug laws on health and incarceration rates, JPP conducts multi-provincial studies with incarcerated individuals to understand how punitive drug policies contribute to rising imprisonment, declining conviction rates, and worsening prison health conditions. These insights inform our advocacy for legal and policy reform grounded in evidence.
Promoting health-centered policies through data-driven insights and advocacy. JPP works closely with judicial academies, policymakers, and international partners to advocate for proportional sentencing, harm reduction, and non-custodial alternatives. Our approach integrates public health principles with legal analysis to support systemic change.
Since 2013, Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) has championed the rights of overseas Pakistani prisoners and migrant workers. Rooted in international human rights law and Pakistan’s constitutional obligations, our work combines legal aid, strategic litigation, policy reform, and global advocacy.
Our efforts began with the repatriation of 43 detainees from Bagram Prison and expanded to include over 100 repatriations from Sri Lanka, and advocacy leading to the Saudi–Pakistan Prisoner Transfer Agreement. Through landmark litigation like Asma Shafi v. Federation of Pakistan (2017), we secured consular assistance as a legal duty—a precedent now cited internationally.
To drive reform, we developed the Pakistanis Imprisoned Abroad database tracking 23,000+ detainees across 88 countries, and published key reports like Caught in a Web and Through the Cracks. We’ve engaged the UN system, co-hosted legal trainings in Malaysia, and fostered high-level dialogue through International Migrants Day consultations.
From legal assistance to reintegration, JPP continues to defend and amplify the voices of migrant workers, detainees, and returnees worldwide.
Women in the criminal justice system face unique challenges that often go unaddressed, from inadequate healthcare and lack of access to sanitary products to the absence of childcare facilities and protection from abuse. Many women in prison are also survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and poverty, with these underlying issues often contributing to their incarceration. Despite these complex circumstances, prison policies in Pakistan remain largely male-focused, failing to accommodate the specific physical and emotional needs of women.
Our advocacy focuses on creating gender-responsive policies that recognize and address these distinct challenges. We work to improve access to healthcare, including mental health services and reproductive care, and push for the introduction of mother-and-child units in prisons to ensure that incarcerated mothers can maintain bonds with their children. Our team also provides legal representation to women facing gender-based discrimination within the justice system and works to secure the release of women unjustly imprisoned due to coercion, abuse, or financial vulnerability.
The Prison Data Report 2024, a collaborative effort by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the National Academy of Prison Administration (NAPA), and Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), provides an in-depth analysis of the state of Pakistan’s prison system. Highlighting critical issues such as overcrowding, under-trial detentions, and systemic inefficiencies, this report is an essential resource for understanding the challenges within our criminal justice system and identifying pathways for reform. By presenting data-driven insights, the report aims to drive meaningful dialogue and action toward a more just and humane penal system.
If you or a loved one is facing a death sentence, prolonged detention, torture and ill-treatment, or trial without access to legal counsel, our team may be able to assist.
Share a brief summary of your situation through our secure form. All information is kept confidential.
If you are aware of an urgent human rights violation — including torture, abuse in custody, or denial of healthcare — we encourage you to get in touch.JPP documents and responds to credible reports of abuse, especially where legal intervention or advocacy may be possible.
Please describe the issue clearly and include any relevant details.
Navigating the justice system can be overwhelming — especially without legal knowledge.
If you’re unsure of your rights, court procedures, or how to advocate for a family member, we offer resources and guidance to help you understand the process.
We may not take on every case, but we aim to support you with clarity and information.
JPP strategically leverages the EU’s GSP+ framework as a tool for systemic reform in Pakistan’s criminal justice system. By aligning domestic laws and practices with international human rights standards, particularly those enshrined in the ICCPR and UNCAT, we aim to transform a historically punitive system into one that centers on rehabilitation, dignity, and accountability.
Since Pakistan’s accession to GSP+ in 2014, JPP has actively engaged with policymakers, civil society, and international partners to monitor compliance, influence legal reform, and protect the rights of vulnerable populations — including prisoners on death row, persons with psychosocial disabilities, and juvenile offenders. This work has contributed to landmark progress such as the abolition of the death penalty for drug-related offences, the passage of Pakistan’s first anti-torture law, and the growing application of human rights jurisprudence by the courts.
Your skills and passion can help reshape the future of drug policy in Pakistan. Whether you’re a researcher, writer, designer, social worker, lawyer, or student, your voice can amplify the need for reform.
We work to highlight how punitive drug laws disproportionately harm the poor, the vulnerable, and those struggling with addiction. By joining our team, you can help shift the narrative—from punishment to public health, from stigma to support.
Together, we can build a fairer, more humane system—one that treats people with dignity and recognizes that justice must be rooted in compassion.
At JPP, we are dedicated to reforming the criminal justice system through a human rights lens. Our mission is to challenge injustices and advocate for those whose voices are often silenced.
Your voice matters—help us advocate for justice.
