In 2023, the Punjab government issued a notification aimed at the character building of prisoners serving sentences in various jails across the province, transforming them into productive citizens and encouraging an inclination towards religion. Under Rule 215, this policy allows prisoners to participate in in-prison courses covering  (recitation),  (memorization), (translation), and general education of the Quran, thereby enabling them to earn a remission or reduction in their sentences. Prisoners who complete these courses receive a sentence reduction ranging from 15 to 180 days. According to official statistics, approximately 2,558 Muslim prisoners have availed themselves of this facility by acquiring religious education between 2020 and 2025

Undoubtedly, this is a commendable initiative by the Punjab government; however, prisoners belonging to other faiths have unfortunately been deprived of this facility. Recognizing this inequity, the National Commission for Human Rights drew the Punjab government's attention to the need to extend this benefit to individuals of other faiths as well. Similarly, human rights organizations filed writ petitions in the High Court challenging the denial of sentence reductions for minority prisoners on educational grounds, demanding equal rights under Articles 20, 25, and 36 of the Constitution of Pakistan..

The Punjab Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution calling for the provision of instructional books and teachers regarding religious beliefs to minority prisoners. The resolution was tabled in the House by government member Raheela Khadim Hussain on September 1, 2026. According to the text of the resolution, Rule 215 of the Punjab Prison Rules 1978 allows for sentence concessions and reductions in the term of imprisonment based on religious education. It highlights the need for the effective implementation of this system for minority prisoners as well.  The text of the resolution further states that the House holds the view that prisoners belonging to Christian, Hindu, Sikh, and other minority faiths should also be provided equal opportunities to study their religious curricula, appear for examinations, and—based on successful performance—receive sentence remissions in accordance with the law. According to the resolution, given that there are approximately 1,624 minority prisoners in Punjab's jails, it is essential to make this system practical and effective.  The House demands that the Punjab Government ensure the immediate and non-discriminatory implementation of Rule 215 by making regular arrangements for religious education and examinations for minority prisoners as well, and by providing facilities to successful prisoners in accordance with the law.

In light of the Punjab Government Home Department’s notification No. SO (MP) 11-5/2019 (P-IV) dated January 20, 2023—published in the Punjab Gazette on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 (pages 3648–3651)—approval was granted for a sentence reduction ranging from 15 to 180 days for Hindu, Christian, and Sikh prisoners upon their completion of various courses on the teachings of their respective religions; however, there have been no reports so far of any non-Muslim prisoner availing themselves of this facility.

If the minority MPAs of the Punjab Assembly are truly serious about this matter, they should play a practical role in ensuring the provision of religious materials and curricula for non-Muslim prisoners. Christians make up 95 percent of the minority prisoners in Punjab's jails; far from having access to a Christian curriculum, they do not even have an adequate number of copies of the Holy Bible. Recently, while visiting a district jail as a journalist—where there are nearly 200 Christian prisoners—I found that they possessed only a single copy of the Holy Bible. However, with the assistance of some pastors, I have since provided the prisoners with not only the Holy Bible but also hundreds of other Christian books.

It is worth considering how these prisoners can undertake courses based on religious education when they lack the necessary religious curriculum. Through this article, I also urge religious leaders to approach the Home Department to provide the relevant curriculum to the prisoners. I believe that such an initiative would not only lead to a reduction in their sentences but also prove to be a milestone in transforming their lives. The message recorded in the Holy Bible draws our attention to this matter: Verse (Matthew 25:43): "I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."