LAHORE, July 25: Overcrowding is said to be the main reason for mismanagement in Punjab prisons, and it often leads to riots and problems like the one in Sialkot on Friday.

According to Punjab prisons’ official record, which was reviewed recently, 54,602 people were detained in 13 jails of the province. It is estimated that the number of prisoners is five times more than the capacity of jails.

Punjab IGP (Prisons) Pervez Rahim Rajput, out of the country at present, has termed overcrowding the main reason for security lapses in talks with newsmen on various occasions.

Overcrowding leads to poor security arrangements, as the jail authorities always blame every untoward situation on lack of staff and resources.

The Sialkot incident was not much different from the riot in Sahiwal jail last December, which followed a similar incident in the Kasur district jail, where two prisoners were tortured to death to “maintain law and order”. The killing of blasphemy accused, Mohammad Yousaf, in a Lahore jail was another such incident.

In all these incidents, weapons were smuggled into jail buildings despite strict security arrangements. It is believed that weapons or other illegal material can only be taken to a jail with the connivance of prison authorities.

Of the total prisoners, 53,482 are men and 1,120 women, who include 50,205 adult men and 1,104 adult women. There are 3,277 male juveniles and 16 female ones.

Among the condemned prisoners, there are 5,122 adult males, 21 women and 61 male juveniles. Among the under-trial prisoners, there are 34,455 adult men, 812 adult women, 2,582 male juveniles and 12 female juveniles. Convicted prisoners include 10,628 adult men, 271 women, 634 male juveniles and four female juveniles.

A total of 23,618 people are being detained on charges of committing murder, 1,545 for attempted murder, 323 for causing death due to negligence and 3,234 for hurting people.

As many as 5,983 people are being detained on dacoity charges, 2,546 for theft, 250 for various violations, 293 for abduction and rape and 977 for sodomy.

The number of those detained on charges of criminal assault is 336. As many as 1,461 have been detained under the Arms Act, 41 are military deserters, 114 on charges of gambling, 40 under the MPO and 480 for forgery and fraud.

Those caught wandering and sent to jail number 66. As many as 118 are undergoing imprisonment on charges of attempted homicide and 136 for breach of peace while 1,389 were caught in possession of stolen property.

Sixty-five people have been detained under the Railways Act, 143 under the Pakistan Army Act, seven for attempting to commit suicide, 199 under the Foreign Act and 6,602 under the Prohibition Act.

The prisons house 55 people on charges of creating violence, 127 for smuggling, 2,817 under the Zina Ordinance, 97 under the Customs Act and 1,488 for miscellaneous offences. There are 52 lunatics.

The jail population has been increasing fast despite all the measures the authorities adopt, like releasing those held for minor offences.