Islamabad, Sept. 1 -- Pakistan's already strained prison system is facing a deepening crisis as a growing number of inmates remain behind bars while waiting for their cases to be decided by the courts. Prisons across the country are holding nearly 110,000 inmates against an overall sanctioned capacity of around 64,000, as reported by Samaa TV.

According to Samaa TV, the situation is particularly alarming in Punjab, where overcrowding has reached critical levels. Approximately 70,000 prisoners are currently confined in the province's 45 jails, despite the facilities having a combined capacity of only about 38,000 inmates.

The figures also highlight the large proportion of prisoners who have yet to be convicted. Of Punjab's estimated 70,0...