Pakistan anti‑torture law undermined by weak enforcement, abuse persists

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) warned that, despite the 2022 Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment continue in detention facilities across the country. In a round‑table organized under HRCP’s ‘Against Torture’ campaign, legal experts, government representatives and civil‑society groups highlighted weak safeguards, lack of accountability and the absence of clear procedures for law‑enforcement agencies. HRCP council member and former chairperson Hina Jilani stressed that practical guidance is essential to identify, investigate, document and respond to cases of torture, including psychological abuse. Lawyer Asad Jamal cited the UN Committee against Torture’s findings that concerns raised in 2017 re‑appeared in the 2026 review, indicating persistent structural problems. He called for clear protocols to prevent arbitrary detention, amendment of Prison Rules to meet human‑rights standards, and ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. HRCP member Farhatullah Babar also highlighted the use of internment centres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, urging either their abolition or integration into a civilian prison system with independent oversight.