Find me on facebook www.facebook.com/shamshad.haider https://www.youtube.com/shamshad14
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Rawal note: When police torture becomes the norm of the day
The government seems to have been betraying its commitments to stamp out torture apparently due to the political interference in the appointments of police officials on important posts.
In a recent case, a large number of people from Kotli Sattian attacked the local police station, tortured the police officials and blocked the traffic on main road for over six hours. They were protesting obnoxious remarks allegedly passed by the SHO about a family while settling a dispute between two groups.
In return, the police rounded up several people, suspected to be involved in torturing the police officials and attacking the police station, and reportedly subjected them to inhumane treatment. The tension is yet to settle as people have given a deadline to the police to mend their attitude.
The second incident came to light in an urban area police station, where a detainee was tortured for signing a confession that he was involved in a car theft. Ultimately, the detainee died in the police custody, which was acknowledged by the police when it registered a murder case against eight police personnel.
Torture is routinely used as a means of extracting “confessions” by the police. The detainees are beaten, knotted in painful positions, suspended from ceilings to make them confess that they were involved in a crime.
Said Khan, a resident of Mohmand Agency who was accused of car theft, didn’t confess to the alleged crime despite all cruel tactics used by the police of the two police stations – Airport and New Town – until he lost his life.
During the investigation, two of Khan’s accomplices allegedly confessed to stealing two cars. The Airport police, however, was unable to make Said Khan confess to the crime. This is when the station house officer of the New Town asked his counterpart to hand over the accused to him, claiming he could get the confession from him.
“While being subjected to torture, his blood pressure started dropping and he could not recover,” a police official at the New Town police station said about Khan, who was investigated in the presence of the SHO. A superintendent of Rawalpindi police was also allegedly in the loop about the investigation.
On seeing his condition deteriorating, the Airport police officials were called and asked to take their accused back. While the Airport police were taking the torture victim, he died.
A medical board carried out the postmortem on the body of Khan. Though its final reports are awaited, torture was confirmed in the murder case registered against the eight police personnel with the Airport police. However, two of the policemen booked in the torture case are yet to be arrested.
Human rights activist Tahira Abdullah condemned the police torture during which a man, who was yet to be proven guilty, was killed.
“The police men involved in the murder must be punished with full force of the law, though the court,” she said and added: “Recruitment and training of police force in Pakistan needs to be improved, if the people are to be protected from police brutality.”
The Model Town incident in Lahore, in which precious lives were lost, was an evident of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s soft corner for the police. Now, the PML-N central government has to use the police force to foil ‘Azadi March’ of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Tahirul Qadri’s movement against the existing corrupt system – whether they are right or wrong.
The question here is why the CM will bring the existing police lot to justice when he badly needs such people to suppress his political opponents.
In such circumstances, the Model Town incident, public reaction against Kotli Sattian police, torturing of detainees by police and serious complaints by public and senior police officers could be very minor things for Shahbaz Sharif and his party leaders to make them realise that the police will not help them when they will be in trouble.
Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2014
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
- Jun 21 - Jun 28 (1)
- Jun 14 - Jun 21 (3)
- Jun 7 - Jun 14 (3)
- Mar 15 - Mar 22 (8)
- Mar 8 - Mar 15 (53)
- Mar 1 - Mar 8 (20)
- Feb 23 - Mar 1 (10)
- Feb 16 - Feb 23 (19)
- Feb 9 - Feb 16 (17)
- Feb 2 - Feb 9 (38)
- Jan 26 - Feb 2 (9)
- Jan 19 - Jan 26 (9)
- Jan 12 - Jan 19 (23)
- Jan 5 - Jan 12 (14)
- Dec 29 - Jan 5 (10)
- Dec 22 - Dec 29 (14)
- Dec 15 - Dec 22 (9)
- Dec 8 - Dec 15 (6)
- Dec 1 - Dec 8 (14)
- Nov 24 - Dec 1 (30)
- Nov 17 - Nov 24 (36)
- Nov 10 - Nov 17 (6)
- Nov 3 - Nov 10 (16)
- Oct 27 - Nov 3 (36)
- Oct 20 - Oct 27 (21)
- Oct 13 - Oct 20 (44)
- Oct 6 - Oct 13 (17)
- Sep 29 - Oct 6 (14)
- Sep 22 - Sep 29 (30)
- Sep 15 - Sep 22 (17)
- Sep 8 - Sep 15 (24)
- Sep 1 - Sep 8 (41)
- Aug 25 - Sep 1 (24)
- Aug 18 - Aug 25 (28)
- Aug 11 - Aug 18 (15)
- Aug 4 - Aug 11 (13)
- Jul 28 - Aug 4 (8)
- Jul 21 - Jul 28 (2)
- Jul 14 - Jul 21 (7)
- Jul 7 - Jul 14 (3)
- Jun 30 - Jul 7 (8)
- Jun 2 - Jun 9 (7)
- May 26 - Jun 2 (1)
- May 19 - May 26 (14)
- May 12 - May 19 (12)
- May 5 - May 12 (21)
- Apr 28 - May 5 (41)
- Apr 21 - Apr 28 (25)
- Apr 14 - Apr 21 (38)
- Apr 7 - Apr 14 (38)
- Mar 31 - Apr 7 (17)
- Mar 24 - Mar 31 (26)
- Mar 17 - Mar 24 (12)
- Mar 10 - Mar 17 (26)
- Mar 3 - Mar 10 (10)
- Feb 24 - Mar 3 (39)
- Feb 17 - Feb 24 (19)
- Feb 10 - Feb 17 (23)
- Feb 3 - Feb 10 (44)
- Jan 27 - Feb 3 (15)
- Jan 20 - Jan 27 (25)
- Jan 13 - Jan 20 (26)
- Jan 6 - Jan 13 (4)
- Dec 30 - Jan 6 (12)
- Dec 23 - Dec 30 (22)
- Dec 16 - Dec 23 (1)
- Dec 9 - Dec 16 (12)
- Dec 2 - Dec 9 (32)
- Nov 25 - Dec 2 (40)
- Nov 18 - Nov 25 (24)
- Nov 11 - Nov 18 (48)
- Nov 4 - Nov 11 (20)
- Oct 28 - Nov 4 (29)
- Oct 21 - Oct 28 (39)
- Oct 14 - Oct 21 (32)
- Oct 7 - Oct 14 (41)
- Sep 30 - Oct 7 (25)
- Sep 23 - Sep 30 (26)
- Sep 16 - Sep 23 (34)
- Sep 9 - Sep 16 (29)
- Sep 2 - Sep 9 (40)
- Aug 26 - Sep 2 (20)
- Aug 19 - Aug 26 (10)
- Aug 12 - Aug 19 (21)
- Aug 5 - Aug 12 (46)
- Jul 29 - Aug 5 (10)
- Jul 22 - Jul 29 (2)
- Jul 15 - Jul 22 (8)
- Jul 8 - Jul 15 (13)
- Jul 1 - Jul 8 (16)
- Jun 24 - Jul 1 (24)
- Jun 17 - Jun 24 (6)
- Jun 10 - Jun 17 (38)
- Jun 3 - Jun 10 (46)
- May 27 - Jun 3 (30)
- May 20 - May 27 (17)
- May 13 - May 20 (29)
- May 6 - May 13 (10)
- Apr 29 - May 6 (31)
- Apr 22 - Apr 29 (50)
- Apr 15 - Apr 22 (16)
- Apr 8 - Apr 15 (37)
- Apr 1 - Apr 8 (48)
- Mar 25 - Apr 1 (36)
- Mar 18 - Mar 25 (40)
- Mar 11 - Mar 18 (38)
- Mar 4 - Mar 11 (14)
- Feb 25 - Mar 4 (34)
- Feb 18 - Feb 25 (34)
- Feb 11 - Feb 18 (15)
- Feb 4 - Feb 11 (46)
- Jan 28 - Feb 4 (16)
- Jan 21 - Jan 28 (10)
- Jan 14 - Jan 21 (11)
- Jan 7 - Jan 14 (24)
- Dec 31 - Jan 7 (10)
- Dec 24 - Dec 31 (11)
- Dec 17 - Dec 24 (21)
- Dec 10 - Dec 17 (27)
- Dec 3 - Dec 10 (19)
- Nov 26 - Dec 3 (22)
- Nov 19 - Nov 26 (18)
- Nov 12 - Nov 19 (30)
- Nov 5 - Nov 12 (54)
- Oct 29 - Nov 5 (47)
- Oct 22 - Oct 29 (28)
- Oct 15 - Oct 22 (45)
- Oct 8 - Oct 15 (41)
- Oct 1 - Oct 8 (38)
- Sep 24 - Oct 1 (40)
- Sep 17 - Sep 24 (99)
- Sep 10 - Sep 17 (18)
- Sep 3 - Sep 10 (9)
- Aug 27 - Sep 3 (26)
- Aug 20 - Aug 27 (28)
- Aug 13 - Aug 20 (19)
- Aug 6 - Aug 13 (41)
- Jul 30 - Aug 6 (4)
- Jul 16 - Jul 23 (22)
- Jul 9 - Jul 16 (23)
- Jul 2 - Jul 9 (9)
- Jun 25 - Jul 2 (4)
- Jun 18 - Jun 25 (10)
- Jun 11 - Jun 18 (13)
- Jun 4 - Jun 11 (40)
- May 21 - May 28 (31)
- May 14 - May 21 (41)
- May 7 - May 14 (34)
- Apr 30 - May 7 (33)
- Apr 23 - Apr 30 (32)
- Apr 16 - Apr 23 (38)
- Apr 9 - Apr 16 (47)
- Apr 2 - Apr 9 (19)
- Mar 26 - Apr 2 (37)
- Mar 19 - Mar 26 (20)
- Mar 12 - Mar 19 (32)
- Mar 5 - Mar 12 (32)
- Feb 26 - Mar 5 (26)
- Feb 19 - Feb 26 (63)
- Feb 12 - Feb 19 (20)
- Feb 5 - Feb 12 (2)
- Jan 29 - Feb 5 (16)
- Jan 22 - Jan 29 (24)
- Jan 15 - Jan 22 (31)
- Jan 8 - Jan 15 (20)
- Jan 1 - Jan 8 (11)
- Dec 25 - Jan 1 (30)
- Dec 18 - Dec 25 (48)
- Dec 11 - Dec 18 (44)
- Dec 4 - Dec 11 (74)
- Nov 27 - Dec 4 (50)
- Nov 20 - Nov 27 (39)
- Nov 13 - Nov 20 (73)
- Nov 6 - Nov 13 (51)
- Oct 30 - Nov 6 (56)
- Oct 23 - Oct 30 (33)
- Oct 16 - Oct 23 (52)
- Oct 9 - Oct 16 (70)
- Oct 2 - Oct 9 (56)
- Sep 25 - Oct 2 (66)
- Sep 18 - Sep 25 (52)
- Sep 11 - Sep 18 (21)
- Sep 4 - Sep 11 (44)
- Aug 28 - Sep 4 (25)
- Aug 21 - Aug 28 (27)
- Aug 14 - Aug 21 (27)
- Aug 7 - Aug 14 (43)
- Jul 31 - Aug 7 (24)
- Jul 24 - Jul 31 (24)
- Jul 17 - Jul 24 (2)
- Jul 10 - Jul 17 (6)
- Jul 3 - Jul 10 (23)
- Jun 26 - Jul 3 (38)
- Jun 19 - Jun 26 (14)
- Jun 12 - Jun 19 (14)
- Jun 5 - Jun 12 (24)
- May 29 - Jun 5 (29)
- May 22 - May 29 (69)
- May 15 - May 22 (81)
- May 8 - May 15 (35)
- May 1 - May 8 (21)
- Apr 24 - May 1 (31)
- Apr 17 - Apr 24 (25)
- Apr 10 - Apr 17 (23)
- Apr 3 - Apr 10 (38)
- Mar 27 - Apr 3 (50)
- Mar 20 - Mar 27 (7)
- Mar 13 - Mar 20 (41)
- Mar 6 - Mar 13 (24)
- Feb 28 - Mar 6 (18)
- Feb 21 - Feb 28 (20)
- Feb 14 - Feb 21 (1)
- Feb 7 - Feb 14 (51)
- Jan 31 - Feb 7 (30)
- Jan 24 - Jan 31 (24)
- Jan 17 - Jan 24 (5)
- Jan 10 - Jan 17 (17)
- Jan 3 - Jan 10 (36)
- Dec 27 - Jan 3 (23)
- Dec 20 - Dec 27 (16)
- Dec 13 - Dec 20 (39)
- Dec 6 - Dec 13 (37)
- Nov 29 - Dec 6 (48)
- Nov 22 - Nov 29 (42)
- Nov 15 - Nov 22 (29)
- Nov 8 - Nov 15 (17)
- Nov 1 - Nov 8 (11)
- Oct 25 - Nov 1 (27)
- Oct 18 - Oct 25 (7)
- Oct 11 - Oct 18 (26)
- Oct 4 - Oct 11 (54)
- Sep 27 - Oct 4 (21)
- Sep 20 - Sep 27 (63)
- Sep 13 - Sep 20 (25)
- Sep 6 - Sep 13 (16)
- Aug 30 - Sep 6 (11)
- Aug 23 - Aug 30 (12)
- Aug 16 - Aug 23 (11)
- Aug 9 - Aug 16 (17)
- Aug 2 - Aug 9 (37)
- Jul 26 - Aug 2 (16)
- Jul 19 - Jul 26 (10)
- Jul 5 - Jul 12 (38)
- Jun 28 - Jul 5 (20)
- Jun 21 - Jun 28 (9)
- Jun 14 - Jun 21 (24)
- Jun 7 - Jun 14 (60)
- May 31 - Jun 7 (69)
- May 24 - May 31 (97)
- May 17 - May 24 (35)
- May 10 - May 17 (28)
- May 3 - May 10 (42)
- Apr 26 - May 3 (24)
- Apr 19 - Apr 26 (2)
- Apr 12 - Apr 19 (16)
- Apr 5 - Apr 12 (31)
- Mar 29 - Apr 5 (1)
- Sep 21 - Sep 28 (1)
- Aug 17 - Aug 24 (2)
- Aug 10 - Aug 17 (130)
- Aug 3 - Aug 10 (220)
- Jul 27 - Aug 3 (170)
- Jul 13 - Jul 20 (5)
- Jul 6 - Jul 13 (149)
- Jun 29 - Jul 6 (171)
- Jun 22 - Jun 29 (231)
- Jun 15 - Jun 22 (153)
- Jun 8 - Jun 15 (133)
- Jun 1 - Jun 8 (102)
- May 25 - Jun 1 (140)
- May 18 - May 25 (171)
- May 11 - May 18 (155)
- May 4 - May 11 (205)
- Apr 27 - May 4 (220)
- Apr 20 - Apr 27 (155)
- Apr 13 - Apr 20 (201)
- Apr 6 - Apr 13 (218)
- Mar 30 - Apr 6 (209)
- Mar 23 - Mar 30 (248)
- Mar 16 - Mar 23 (255)
- Mar 9 - Mar 16 (272)
- Mar 2 - Mar 9 (340)
- Feb 23 - Mar 2 (311)
- Feb 16 - Feb 23 (237)
- Feb 9 - Feb 16 (229)
- Feb 2 - Feb 9 (98)
- Jan 26 - Feb 2 (91)
- Jan 19 - Jan 26 (14)
- Jan 12 - Jan 19 (82)
- Jan 5 - Jan 12 (46)
- Dec 22 - Dec 29 (95)
- Dec 15 - Dec 22 (7)
- Dec 8 - Dec 15 (78)
- Dec 1 - Dec 8 (33)
- Nov 24 - Dec 1 (40)
- Nov 17 - Nov 24 (61)
- Nov 10 - Nov 17 (14)
- Oct 27 - Nov 3 (42)
- Oct 20 - Oct 27 (238)
- Oct 13 - Oct 20 (269)
- Oct 6 - Oct 13 (284)
- Sep 29 - Oct 6 (204)
- Sep 22 - Sep 29 (220)
- Sep 15 - Sep 22 (257)
- Sep 8 - Sep 15 (164)
No comments:
Post a Comment