Christian and Hindu prisoners in Pakistan endure systemic abuse and discrimination because of their faith, according to a new study by the Catholic Church’s human rights arm.
The report, “Hope Behind Bars,” was published by the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Pakistan Bishops’ Conference and shared with the Vatican’s Fides News Agency.
It voiced “deep concern about the treatment of inmates belonging to minority faiths” and denounced the “inhumane treatment of Christian prisoners in Pakistan.”
The three-year investigation faced “legal and procedural obstacles” and “a lack of cooperation from the authorities,” which limited the NCJP’s ability to gather data.
Despite this, the Commission concluded that “prisoners belonging to religious minorities are particularly vulnerable due to religious discrimination in the prison system.”
Pakistan has 128 functioning prisons with a total capacity of about 66,000 inmates. The Punjab Prison Department reported 1,180 non-Muslim inmates, but one former prisoner claimed “over 500 Christians are imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat Prison in Lahore alone.”
The NCJP cited a 2024 United Nations review of Pakistan’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which flagged overcrowding, poor sanitation, and lack of medical care.
“These problems disproportionately affect prisoners from minority communities, making them particularly vulnerable,” the NCJP noted.
Although Christians, Hindus, and other groups make up only 5% of the population, their incarceration rate is far higher, pointing to “a possible systemic bias within the justice system.”
Once identified as non-Muslim, prisoners are often subjected to worse treatment by fellow inmates and guards. The report said they are branded “untouchable” and forced into degrading work. Several Christian inmates, including some who insist they are innocent, gave testimony of discriminatory abuse.
The NCJP urged the government to “establish mechanisms to combat systematic discrimination against minorities in prisons.” It also called on civil society to extend legal aid and ensure access to education and religious practice behind bars.
The Commission further recommended “appropriate measures to enable prisoners to report abuse, violence, and inhumane treatment,” while pressing for broad reform of Pakistan’s prison system.
