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Who is supposed to implement your anti-torture obligations when those inflicting the torture have seized power, and those being subjected to torture are the country’s actual elected leaders? We asked the UN.
After the video below, I, along with colleagues from our NGOs, presented cases from Pakistan to the UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT), which is reviewing Pakistan in this cycle.
In the time we had, we spoke about Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, military and civilian political prisoners, as well as Zille Shah, Iman Mazari, journalists, and social media activists. We also explained how PECA and constitutional amendments, in response to questions asked of us, are major predisposing factors to torture.
The remaining affected cases were covered in our reports published on the UN website.
The delegation from Pakistan will be questioned today at the UN, and the Committee will publish its findings at the close of this 84th session at the end of April.
What is interesting is that we were the only NGOs speaking about Imran Khan and those named above. Talk about the elephant in the room.
The other NGOs focused mainly on minority issues such as Afghan refugees and religious minorities, likely because NGOs have historically represented affected groups that are often minorities. Other than in the case of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, which most of Pakistan was not even alive to witness, it is unprecedented for a former and rightful Prime Minister, an entire political party, and journalists etc who go "out of syllabus" to be persecuted en masse.
So it seems we are the first wave of organic, non-minority NGOs created to raise these issues.
The main internationally recognised generic human rights groups from Pakistan were present, but not one mentioned Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, or any political prisoner. Not surprising.
I cannot share too much before today’s questioning of the Pakistan delegation, but we hope the questions and recommendations we shared with the UN Committee are used - both in questioning the delegation and in the final UN report.
These reports and recommendations can be presented to the Commonwealth, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, who are all actively reviewing Pakistan so that pressure can be exerted in various ways for some relief.
Yes, we are not naive and know exactly what we are up against, but we firmly believe some relief is possible. It will take work. But there are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.
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