Through our work representing British nationals facing the death penalty in Pakistan, Reprieve has frequently come across cases involving police mistreatment.
Although Pakistan has good legislation and policies banning torture, it appears that some police officers continue to use brutal techniques to secure confessions and extort money from those accused of crimes. In Reprieve’s experience, the police will often specifically target British Pakistanis, because of their perceived wealth and lack of local contacts.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to take targeted action against abusive police officers on the basis of anecdotes alone. For this, we need evidence to prove that specific instances of police misconduct have taken place. This has been the aim of the Pakistan Police Torture Project which operated in Birmingham from 2010-2011.
Key to the project has been gaining support from numerous community leaders, religious leaders and public figures. Notably we have been given backing by many community leaders, including Moazzam Begg, the Association of British Muslims and The British Pakistani Christian Association. The PPTP would like to thank these individuals and organisations for their continued support.
While the Birmingham-based part of our investigation has now concluded, Reprieve staff in London, and Reprieve’s Fellows in Pakistan, continue to investigate allegations of police torture. Also, the next step in the Project is for Reprieve’s Fellows to use the evidence we have now obtained to challenge police torture in the local media and the local courts. Reprieve is currently acting in three ways:
Assist: Our primary aim is to help those currently facing the death penalty as a result of confessions extracted through torture.
Prevent: We also want to do everything we can to stop more people from suffering torture, or spending years in jail awaiting trial on false charges after 'confessing' under torture.
Reform: By using political and legal avenues, we hope to ensure that the police are held accountable for breaking national laws prohibiting police brutality.
What should I do if I know of an incident of police torture in Pakistan?
If we can obtain evidence of specific instances of police mistreatment, we can use this evidence to hold police officers to account and to end the current culture of impunity. This, in turn, will help those police officers who are honest and decent to do the right thing and to comply with Pakistani law by refusing to torture and accept bribes.
There can be no doubt that there is the political will for change. The law clearly states that torture is wrong. We now need help to make sure that the police obey the law, just like everyone else is expected to.
We are asking anybody who has experienced police mistreatment, or knows someone that has, to come forward and speak to us. Everything you say is treated with the strictest confidentiality and we will only do with your information what you permit. Everything we do is free – we have never asked anyone for money, and never will.
What will we do with the information you provide us?
Reprieve plans to use evidence gathered from victims or witnesses in three ways: to assist, prevent and reform. Through our Fellowship Programme, we work closely with skilled and experienced lawyers in Pakistan who can take action against the police and make a difference – however, they cannot do so until they have the evidence to bring a case to the court.
If you choose to come forward, your information will be added to the wealth of information we already have that will allow us to act to assist prisoners currently facing the death penalty, to prevent further torture, and to reform police practices in the long term.
Cases
Torture is an issue that has come up in many of Reprieve’s cases. More details about some of these cases can be found by clicking on the links below:
Naheem Hussain and Rehan Zaman
Anonymous testimony from a victim of police torture.
Contact
If you think you can help us in eradicating the use of torture in police detention in Pakistan please contact us. Everything you say is treated with the strictest confidentiality and we will only do with your information what you permit.
Everything we do is for free.
Contact details:
Reprieve: 02073534640
Marc Callcutt marc@reprieve.org.uk / 07747604255
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Zero DB