Anti torture body seeks stronger laws to criminalise custodial torture

Thousands of cases of torture in police custody occur every year in Pakistan but few are reported in the media.

LAHORE: A civil society seminar was held to mark the international day against torture on June 26 by the Anti Torture Alliance (ATA) Pakistan in collaboration with Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) at the HRCP auditorium.

The participants demanded for laws to criminalise torture, modernising of criminal justice system with independent complaint centres, impunity for law enforcement authorities and improvement in human rights standards at police stations and jails.

Speaking at the occasion Bushra Khaliq, Executive Director, Women in Struggle of Empowerment (WISE) said that torture in police custody is a chronic problem in Pakistan, violating the social contract between state and society. Thousands of cases of torture in police custody occur every year in Pakistan but very few of them are reported in media.

She added sexual violence is also reported by up to 70 per cent of women in police custody, along with the violation of their basic human rights.

It has been four years since the government of Pakistan has ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT), but it has failed to minimise the incidences of torture and legislate criminalise the custodial torture.

Samson Salamat of ATA Pakistan said that at present there is no law to criminalise custodial torture in Pakistan thus leading to a rise to incidents of unabated torture in police custody.

Human Rights Activist IA Rehman said that it is need of the hour that the law enforcement authorities ensure the implementation of the existing laws. He urged the government that after the UNCAT which Pakistan has ratified it is obligatory for the government to make laws against torture. He asked the participants is there no other way than torture that could be used by the police against the accused or the criminals and the law enforcement authorities should look for alternative ways.

HRCP’s Rally

A rally was carried out by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan  along with European Commission to the world organisation against torture  (OMCT) project “Towards Implementation and Accountability”  today to support victims of torture with the support of the at Liberty, Lahore.

According to a statement issued by HRCP, the rally was staged to remind the government of its promises to eradicate torture and to comply with international human rights law.

The OMCT and the HRCP jointly called on the government of Pakistan to show its commitment to the abolition of torture and other forms of ill-treatment by effectively implementing the UNCAT.

The two organisations will join forces over the next three years to seek the implementation of the UNCAT to ensure that “nothing can justify torture under any circumstances.”