Sarah Belal Speaks on Criminal Justice Reform in Pakistan

Pakistan has the largest reported death row in the world, Sarah Belal told audience members at her talk on October 26, 2018. Among those executed are juveniles, people with mental illnesses and physical disabilities, and the wrongfully convicted. Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), the organization Belal founded and now leads, seeks to rectify these and other injustices in the Pakistani criminal justice system. JPP offers pro bono defense to Pakistanis facing the death penalty at home and abroad, as well as victims of police torture and other prisoners whose fundamental rights have been violated. 

Rather than provide legal aid, the organization engages in “strategic litigation pursuing cases on behalf of individuals with the potential to bring systemic change” in the criminal justice system. JPP therefore often chooses to defend particularly vulnerable individuals for whom the use of the death penalty will be seen by the public as obviously unjust. Belal told the story of one of their clients, Abdul Basit, who became paralyzed after contracting tuberculosis in the squalid conditions of Faisalabad’s central jail. JPP was able to win an indefinite stay on his execution mere minutes before he was set to be executed, and is now working to get Basit pardoned.

Media campaigns represent an equally important part of JPP’s work. As Belal put it, JPP “represents clients in the court of law and the court of public opinion.” Ninety percent of Pakistanis approve of the death penalty, so persuading the public that the death penalty is a violation of human rights — particularly when used against vulnerable populations such as juveniles and people with mental illnesses — is a priority for JPP.

One tactic JPP has used is putting on plays about the death penalty with famous actors. Belal noted that JPP makes sure to invite as many prison guards, police officers, judges, and government officials as possible to such performances.

A related, highly successful effort, which Belal called the highlight of her career, involved famous Pakistani actor Sarmad Khoosat. JPP organized a 24-hour live performance in which Khoosat portrayed a death row prisoner in the hours before his execution. The stream had a massive effect, garnering over 1 million views and prompting outpourings of support online. For Belal, the strength of the piece is its ability show that the death penalty is “the most premeditated of murders.” 

JPP’s third and newest approach is policy advocacy. In this capacity, JPP works with international treaty bodies to compel the Pakistani government to abide by international standards. Belal stressed that this strategy has successfully pressured the Pakistani government to make some changes in its death penalty policy.

JPP has also done extensive research and advocacy on police torture in Pakistan. JPP and the Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic published a report on the use of torture by the Faisalabad police, which has furthered JPP’s advocacy and caught the attention of international bodies. The United Nations Committee Against Torture even opened with this report in its remarks for its recent view of Pakistan.

Belal admitted that there are political and personal difficulties involved in fighting for prisoners’ rights in Pakistan. The government is often unresponsive to JPP’s efforts, to the point where Supreme Court justices began taking longer lunch breaks specifically to avoid JPP’s cases. Once, Belal revealed, “they evacuated the court because the police called me a terrorist” after she implored a guard to let her speak to a particular official.

Belal also emphasized that the work can take an emotional toll. She candidly recounted some of her most difficult moments on the job, such as the year after Pakistan lifted its moratorium on the death penalty, during which several of JPP’s clients were executed in quick succession.

Yet Belal was careful to stress that even in those darkest times, JPP has had important successes in advocating for the “most overlooked members of society.” JPP secured stays on many other executions and recently passed a bill that sets forth age determination protocols to prevent juveniles from being unlawfully executed — currently a common occurrence in Pakistan. Belal was adamant that despite its challenges, she loves her job and the creativity and energy it demands.