AMONG the many valid criticisms of Pakistan’s law enforcement and security agencies is their proclivity for and acceptance of torture. For those in uniform, torture is virtually an instrument of policy, a well-established part of the dreaded thana culture. Taking the example of three districts in Punjab, a survey released in Lahore on Tuesday says that 57pc of complainants interviewed said they were tortured by police during investigations. Illustrating the brutality that some of our law enforcers are capable of, a news item published on Wednesday detailed the reported torture of an 18-year-old woman in Rahimyar Khan. The victim was picked up by the police after they failed to locate her brother, who was wanted for questioning. As a result of their brutal methods the woman is said to be in critical condition. Tales of similar police brutality in different parts of the country appear frequently in the media, indicating that torture is a nationwide scourge. Yet what is most depressing is that society has accepted torture as a fait accompli. Such complacency in the face of a major societal ill is unacceptable.

What is urgently needed is a well-defined law outlawing torture in all its forms. Despite the fact that torture is constitutionally prohibited and Pakistan is party to multilateral instruments, including the UN Convention against Torture, no legislation exists to tackle these abominable practices. As a result, a culture of impunity prevails, where those in uniform know they can get away with torturing those in their custody or those being investigated. If security personnel are punished, it is little more than a slap on the wrist. Hence, a legal framework against torture is the first step towards eradicating it from our society. There must be zero tolerance for such barbaric behaviour. Once legislation is in place, there should be no excuse for not taking action against those in uniform as well as others who violate an individual’s human rights through the use of torture.