HRCP calls for open judicial inquiry into alleged inhuman torture of prisoners

LAHORE - Expressing outrage at the inhuman torture and humiliation of several death row prisoners at the Toba Tek Singh District Prison, as well as official indifference to demands for an inquiry in this regard, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for an open judicial inquiry to thoroughly probe the matter.

The HRCP claimed that around a month ago, the jail staff, while searching the cells of death-row prisoners at 11pm ostensibly to recover mobile phones, brought many prisoners out of their cells and beat them up, the Daily Times reported.

However, the treatment of three prisoners was particularly harrowing, it noted, with them being allegedly stripped naked and subjected to brutal and inhuman torture.

“The three prisoners reportedly have developed renal ailments as a result of the torture and one has also developed infection of the urinary tract,” a press statement by the HRCP said.

Even though the commission brought the incident to the attention of the Punjab prison chief around a fortnight ago, a request for an inquiry has not elicited any response.

Such impervious attitude and apathetic response from government officials must be condemned in the strongest possible words, the statement noted.

“HRCP calls for an open judicial inquiry to thoroughly probe the matter with a view to bringing to justice all the perpetrators, not least because of Pakistan’s ratification earlier this year of the convention against torture and the reported participation of a medical personnel in the torture on the three prisoners,” it added.

In its statement, the HRCP also urged the government to immediately order medical examination of the three prisoners, and appropriate medical assistance to them. (ANI)