Colonial Shadows and Modern Authorities: An In-Depth Analysis of Female Prisoners in Pakistan with Cross-Jurisdictional Insights and Primary Interviews from District Jail Kasur

Abstract

This research paper delves into the multifaceted experiences of women within the prison system, with a particular emphasis on the city of Lahore, Pakistan. Section 1 presents an outline of the prison landscape in Pakistan, highlighting how colonial legacies have predominantly moulded prisons into instruments of containment rather than avenues for rehabilitation. Section 2 delves into the presence of women within the prison system across three jurisdictions, examining the gender-specific dynamics at play and emphasizing how rehabilitative efforts within prisons reflect and address these unique experiences. Additionally, we delineate five foundational challenges encountered by women in prison, namely accommodation and food, victimization, programming and treatment, work opportunities, and the unique role of motherhood in confinement. In particular, we reflect on how this impacts the rehabilitative aim of the prison system. Section 3 of the paper is dedicated to examining the reality of women’s incarceration in Lahore, Pakistan, through the lens of these five challenges. By organizing our analysis around these specific areas, we aim to shed light on the distinct experiences and hardships faced by incarcerated women in a socio-cultural context that warrants attention and intervention. Through this research, we endeavour to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding women’s incarceration, with implications for policy-making, advocacy efforts, and the development of targeted interventions to address the unique needs of this marginalized population in Lahore and beyond.

Keywords: Incarceration, Colonialism, Gender, Punishment, Rehabilitation, Segregation, Justice, Victimization, Discipline, Marginalization