On the eve of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, President Arif Alvi highlighted that all people possess basic human rights, and human dignity is one of the fundamental rights. The Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, said the president in a statement, holds the dignity of man inviolable and states that no person shall be subjected to torture. Over the years, Pakistan has shown its commitment towards eliminating the practice of torture, he said.
In 2010, the Government of Pakistan ratified the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT) in 2010. UNCAT prohibits torture in unequivocal terms and urges states to penalize those who commit acts of torture. Since then, the Government has been making progress; we now have a bill criminalizing the acts of torture before the legislature. Once passed, Pakistan would have a law that criminalizes torture and punishes those who inflict it.
The president said, “Although torture is prohibited under both international and national laws, it still happens all around the world. Torture is a crime against humanity and the situation is particularly grim in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), where the people are being subjected to brutal torture by the Indian Security forces. I reiterate that torture remains unacceptable and unjustified at all times.
While recognizing the pain of the victims of torture, as well as their families, I urge the International Community and concerned organizations to make all possible efforts to prevent torture, rehabilitate victims and provide redress to them.”
