What happened : On Monday, the Senate unanimously passed a bill criminalizing torture and custodial deaths. The bill was moved by Senator Sherry Rehman in the upper house. Amnesty International also acknowledged the passing of bill.
We urge the National Assembly to prioritize its passage into law, followed by robust implementation in line with the requirements of the UN Convention Against Torture.
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) July 12, 2021
Details : The Torture and Custodial Death Prevention and Punishment Bill was raised in the House by the PPP Parliamentary leader Senator Sherry Rehman and was passed by the treasury benches. Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari added, “It is a much needed bill. It is necessary and urgent.” The bill proposes imprisonment for three to ten years, with fine, which may extend to Rs2 million, to those who commit or conspire to commit torture against those under custody. Furthermore, it declares a life imprisonment sentence for a case of custodial death and sexual violence.
Jubilant that Senate unanimously passed my Prevention of Torture and Custodial Death Bill just now. I want to thank all senators including @Mustafa_PPP & Min @ShireenMazari1 for the work they put into this bill with me in Committee.Pakistan finally on way to criminalising torture
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) July 12, 2021
“Torture in custody is widely used to obtain confessions from people, whether in the criminal justice system or vulnerable members of society in general, especially those with no connections in the corridors of power. If Pakistan is serious about dismantling the use of torture from its policing methods, then it must begin by dismantling the impunity with which the practice is routinely carried out in its most deadly forms across the country with impunity, especially in the lock ups of Punjab, where countless deaths via torture in custody have been reported last year. No province, however, is exempted from this practice,” said Senator Sherry Rehman. For more visit Propergaanda.