Grotesque torture

The latest example of police torture emerges from Toba Tek Singh and has been brought to the forefront by the HRCP.

Our police force has run amok. It functions in ways that are totally unacceptable, and, what is more, seems to do so with the tacit support of an administration that refuses to intervene or demonstrate a willingness to ensure laws are upheld. The latest example of police torture emerges from the Toba Tek Singh district jail and has been brought to the forefront by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). The details make the hairs stand on end. After a search of death row cells to locate illicit mobile phones, a number of prisoners were tortured and beaten. There is nothing new about this. But the most grotesque punishment was reserved for three unfortunate men who had their male organs taped by the prison dispenser to prevent urination. They were then made to drink huge volumes of water and injected to induce an urge to urinate. The men – unsurprisingly – after their four-hour ordeal have suffered renal or urinary tract issues. To make matters worse, complaints went unheeded. While the HRCP points out that Pakistan has this year signed the Convention against Torture, this obviously means nothing at all.

Torture, we all know, is endemic in our jails and police lock-ups. There is evidence that those at the top turn a blind eye, accepting it as ‘inevitable’. This is one reason why it is so common. It will end only if sweeping reforms are undertaken combined with training for the police on the management of interrogation and discipline in jails. At the government level too there is need for action. The over-crowding of jails adds to problems for staff. This can be no excuse at all for the kind of atrocity we have seen. But it does contribute to problems. In the latest case, all those responsible need to be penalised and a clear message sent out that in the future violations of the jail manual will simply not be tolerated.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2010.