Asian Human Rights Commission slams Pak for cancer like spread of custodial torture

LAHORE - In what showcases the total collapse of the rule of law in Pakistan, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has come out with a report which highlights the cancerous nature of torture in custody in the country.

The report said that torture cases across Pakistan were rising at an alarming pace.

“It seems the perpetrators of such heinous acts take pleasure in causing pain and trauma to their victims. Families are often targeted as a way to threaten people or extract bribes from them,” the report said.

The report also highlighted the dirtiest picture concerning the fast increasing torture cases in which officials were raping women in custody in a routine manner.

“Recently, a 13-year-old girl was continuously gang-raped, mentally and physically tortured by police officials during 21 days of illegal detention. Another young girl was also raped in custody by police officers, while her sister was kept nude in lock up and forced to watch,” the report shockingly revealed.

It is not that there is no rule in the country against such heinous crime. Article 14(2) of the Constitution expressly prohibits the use of torture for extracting evidence, how ever, definition of “torture” is not satisfying and does not comply with that stated in the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), it said.

Besides that Pakistan also has no independent agency whose mandate is to inquire on complaints against crimes of torture, The Daily Times quoted the report, as stating.

The AHRC also identified the military and state intelligence agencies as the most notorious authorities for torturing people in custody.

According to AHRC there are 52 detention and torture centres run by the military all over the country. (ANI)