The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) said that it has received credible reports of abuses of authority in Pakistan, while Human Rights Watch (HRW) demanded the Pakistan’s government ‘immediate, independent and transparent investigation’ into Shahbaz Gill’s torture allegations.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) also urged Pakistan’s parliament to make torture a criminal offense in the country.
The International Human Rights Foundation tweeted “We are setting up a working group on this issue. We are currently gathering accurate information about what happened. We welcome any evidence and reliable news.”
We have received credible reports of abuses of authority in #Pakistan????????. We are setting up a working group on this issue. We are currently gathering accurate information about what happened. We welcome any evidence and reliable news. Here or on WhatsApp +19179009044. @PTIofficial pic.twitter.com/rtZJDq6mLi
— International Human Rights Foundation (@Declaracion) August 22, 2022
The development comes at a time when reports of abuse on some politicians and journalists have emerged in the country. Shahbaz Gill, a close aide of former prime minister Imran Khan, was arrested from Bani Gala Chowk in Islamabad a few days ago after a video clip of his controversial remarks aired on a television channel went viral on social media.
Meanwhile, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement on its official website wherein it maintained that Pakistan’s sedition law is “vague and overbroad and has often been used against political opponents”.
Pakistan’s Senate should urgently pass a bill that would make torture a criminal offense. https://t.co/aEzkosbqyG pic.twitter.com/64QF1og4lc
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) August 23, 2022
The statement comes days after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) alleged that security officials have physically and mentally tortured party leader Shahbaz Gill – who is facing sedition charges against him – in custody.
In its statement, HRW also urged the government to conduct an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into the allegations.
“The first step to ending Pakistan’s endemic torture problem is to criminalize it,” said John Sifton, the Asia advocacy director at HRW.
“Justice and accountability in cases of torture will only be possible if parliament passes the torture bill and the government enforces the law by carrying out transparent and impartial investigations into torture allegations,” he added.
