The death of Nadeem Akhtar Sheikh, a death row inmate at Sukkur Central Jail and Correctional Center, has once again put prison authorities and the legal system in the spotlight. Nadeem Akhtar, who was on death row, passed away in the prison hospital after his health deteriorated on May 30, 2025, and he was promptly provided medical assistance. However, despite treatment, his health did not improve.
Nadeem Akhtar had been sentenced to death by an Additional Sessions Judge on August 29, 2008, and his appeal was still pending in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Following Nadeem Akhtar’s death, the prison administration made every possible effort to contact his family, but they were unsuccessful. The Senior Superintendent of Police Hyderabad was also informed of the situation.
To fulfill legal formalities, all proceedings were completed under the supervision of the Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate of Rohri. Subsequently, Nadeem Akhtar’s body was sent for post-mortem to Taluka Hospital Rohri. Due to the inability to contact the family, the body was handed over to Edhi Center Sukkur for burial, as per the Civil Magistrate’s order.
This incident raises questions about the transparency of the prison system and legal proceedings, especially given the fact that the inmate’s appeal was still pending. Nadeem Akhtar’s death presents a challenge for prison authorities regarding what measures they will take to handle such incidents in the future.