FAISALABAD: The National Commission on Human Rights conducted its Preliminary Investigation into nearly 1,500 cases of torture reported by Justice Project Pakistan in just one district of Faisalabad.

Speaking at a press conference at Faisalabad Press Club, NCHR Chairman Justice (R) Ali Nawaz Chowhan stated that it would take action against “police officials who commit torture, no matter what their rank is.”

Justice Chowhan also emphasized the right to a fair trial for all citizens, no matter what their crime is.

Justice Chowhan and Director General NCHR, Aftab Alam conducted the preliminary investigation, where victims of police torture presented their testimonies. JPP also presented the findings of its research, compiled in the report Policing as Torture: A Report on Systematic Brutality and Torture by the Police in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

The report finds conclusive signs of abuse in 1,424 cases out of a sample of 1,867 Medico-Legal Certificates were found. These cases were compiled by a government-appointed District Standing Medical Board in the district of Faisalabad during 2006 and 2012. According to the data, out of the 1,424 cases, 58 of the victims were children and over 134 were women.

The report states that out of these 143 victims were suspended, 464 were forced to witness others being tortured, 15 were subjected to sleep deprivation, 11 were exposed to extreme heat or cold and 114 were sexually abused. The report also finds that 61 percent of women were sexually abused and 81 percent were subjected to culturally inappropriate practices.

In response to a complaint filed by Justice Project Pakistan, detailing the instances of abuse and torture perpetuated by the Faisalabad Police between 2006 and 2012, the NCHR held a hearing on 3 May in Islamabad with Dr. Khurram Sohail Raja of the Faisalabad Medical Board andthe District Public Prosecutor.. The NCHR noted serious concerns about the lack of legislation criminalizing torture in Pakistan.

The initial inquiry by the commission will be followed by formal proceedings next week. The commission will also summon police officials and representatives of the district administration to reply to the allegations. Under international law, as a signatory to both the Convention against Torture, and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Pakistan is under obligation to adopt all measures to prevent and punish acts of torture. Under these treaties, states also have an obligation to provide adequate redress to victims of torture.

A bill criminalizing torture was first tabled in Parliament in 2014. It is yet to be passed by the National Assembly, despite the Government of Pakistan mentioning in the National Action Plan for Human Rights that this bill would be passed by 2016.

Sarah Belal, JPP Executive Director adds: “That torture takes place at the hands of the police is no longer news, because for too long, too many perpetrators have never been held to account. The NCHR has taken the crucial first step towards making this abhorrent practice morally, politically and legally unacceptable. We hope this will inspire more victims to come forward to claim the justice that they have awaited for years.”

Published in Daily Times, May 29th 2018.