LAHORE, Oct 6: Speakers at a seminar on ‘Police torture in Pakistan’ on Saturday called for public awareness about the issue.

“We need to sensitise the public about torture, which is a cultural thing that we have to unlearn and curtail police powers, raise awareness about the issue through the media and include it in the syllabus for police officers,” was the consensus at the event organised by the Institute for Peace and Secular Studies. The participants shared findings of a research report (likely to be published next month).

The seminar was held at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Lahore and was presided over by Hussain Naqi. The participants included I.A. Rehman, Justice Muhammad Akram Qureshi (retired), Additional sessions judges Khalid Mahmood Bhatti and Anjum Raza Syed, Sarmad Saeed, Sheikhupura RPO Zulfiqar Cheema and Malik Saeed Hassan.

Ms Maryam Arif presented findings from her research report on the police torture. She said while Pakistan was a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Torture, there’s not enough awareness about the issue.

Her study showed there was no co-relation between the level of education and awareness about either the UNCAT or reporting mechanisms of torture. This is true for both the police and the public.

Dr Khurram Sohail Raja, who is working as a district medico legal officer, presented case studies with photographs and videos of victims of torture. He explained various torture methods prevalent and how victims succumbed to the injuries caused as a result or were permanently paralysed or psychologically affected.

Star Welfare Organization Secretary-General Shafiq Dogar, a victim of torture himself, shared his story with the participants. He said he was kept in the police custody for 18 days and constantly tortured, suffering scars that he bears to this day.

He shed light on the flaws of the criminal justice system wherein a victim has no recourse to justice.

Arif Chaudhry, legal consultant, Ministry of Interior, recommended that victim protection cells be set up along the lines of the United States. He also encouraged victims of torture to seek monetary damages for malicious prosecution.

Advocate-General of Punjab Ashtar Ausaf Ali said: “We need to sensitise the public about torture and it is a cultural thing that you have to unlearn.”