ABBOTTABAD: Media fraternity here on Friday asked the government to honour the belated international commitment by incorporating the provisions of United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) in its criminal justice system without delay otherwise the policy of systematic delay could possibly expose the country to global criticism and trade loss.

This was the gist of a dialogue held in connection with the International Day in Support of Torture Victims which was organised by Human Development Organisation (HDO) at Abbottabad Press Club.

Editors, bureau chiefs and correspondents of different local and national newspapers and TV channels were in attendance.

On the occasion, Mohammad Sadaqat, a freelance journalist and human rights activist, said Pakistan had ratified UNCAT during June 2010, promising to revamp its criminal justice system in a way that the use of torture was declared as offense and the victims of custodial abuses were made entitled for physical and psycho social rehabilitation. However, he lamented that with the passage of almost seven years, the government had failed to take serious steps towards fulfilling the commitment it had made with the UN.

Journalist Shahid Chaudhry said the mediapersons had a key role to play in protecting the citizens from excesses of law enforcement agencies for which they needed to develop their capacities on investigative reporting. “The complaints of police torture and their torture cells are common but the culture of lack of follow up deprived the victims of their right,” he said. He said apart from international binding under UNCAT, the constitution of Pakistan itself provided safeguards to the citizens against the custodial abuses.

Journalists Sardar Shafique, Iqbal Saghir, Haroon Tanoli, Saqib Khan, Syed Kamal Shah and Mir Mohammad Awan also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2017