Pakistani torture video reminds Naheem Hussain of his ordeal

The men are stretched out on the ground and then repeatedly whipped by officers in turn. 

It was not a stunning piece of investigative journalism, involving hidden cameras and inside informants. It took place in full public view, suggesting that these crimes are so endemic that police officers see no need to hide them.

Here at Reprieve, we know that this video does not depict an isolated, or even rare, incident. Many of the prisoners we help in Pakistan have been subjected to varying degrees of mistreatment and torture. 

Naheem Hussain (pictured, right) who has been in prison for over five years without being convicted of anything, faced similar treatment at Dadyal Police station. When he saw the video he said that it reminded him of what happened to him and his friend Rehan Zaman (pictured, on the left), though the torture they faced was much more severe. The only difference is that  there is usually not a handy video camera available (though medical evidence usually supports the claims of torture).

To the credit of the Pakistani government, all of the officers involved in this incident have been suspended and an investigation will expose what exactly was done and by whom. However, I cannot help but feel that this response has only come about because the officers have been caught red-handed. 

How many other people have been tortured (or killed) in police custody? How many claims of torture have been ignored because of a lack of evidence and complete dearth of political will to end these practices? What is the word of a felon worth against an upstanding police officer anyway?

I hope this damning evidence will lead to these sorts of allegations being taken more seriously in the future and not just being swept under the carpet. This grim video may even be the catalyst for much-needed reform within the Pakistani police force. 

Perhaps what is really needed to stop this practice is the British Government condemning it in the strongest possible terms. After all, we don’t torture people over here. We just ask the questions.