Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information that police officials from two different police stations tortured a young man to gain bribe money. He was tortured with screwdrivers in front of his mother in the first police station, and was allowed to be removed from remand in jail by another police station for further acts of torture. Though he was admitted to hospital on the orders of a civil magistrate court, police interfered in his hospitalization. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after. His mother has filed a case against the police for murder but no signs of a credible investigation are yet evident.
CASE DETAILS:
According to information received by the Star Welfare Organisation, an NGO in Sargodha, and the victims family, on February 26, plain-clothed police officials of Satellite Town Police Station raided the house of Mr. Muddasar Iqbal, 24, for his arrest in the case of a motorcycle theft. He was not at home, so his elder brother was illegally arrested instead by the Sub-Inspector of Satellite Town Police Station, Mr. Azmat Joya and his staff: Head Constable Babar Cheema and Constable Amir Abdullah.
Later that day the mother Ms. Zarina Bibi, an uncle Mr. Sher Mohammad and his son Manzoor Illahi went to the police station to enquire about the arrest of her elder son. Inspector Azmat Joya told them that he was a hostage: if she was to bring her younger son, Muddasar Iqbal, to the station, then her elder son would be released. He did not reveal the specific charges. She was told to bring Muddasar to police chowki (kiosk), a sub-police station of Satellite Police Station, and when she did so later that day, Inspector Azmat Joya started to beat the young man, and ordered her to leave.
On February 27 Ms. Zarina Bibi went to the police chowki to find Muddasar fastened to a charpai, a wooden cart, being tortured with a heavy rolling device, on his legs and the soles of his feet. Constable Amir Abdullah reportedly charged her Rs. 50,000 for his release; when she replied that this would be impossible the officers allegedly started to stab the soles of the man’s feet with screwdrivers, drawing blood. Ms. Zarina promised to pay the amount.
According to our information she had arranged Rs. 20,000 by the following day and promised police the remainder in a week. However the victim was tortured again. The police officially declared his arrest on March 1 and produced him before the civil magistrate for remand. The magistrate granted judicial custody till March 9 and he was sent to Sargodha District Prison; he was not asked about the possibility of torture, though he was unable to walk. He complained about problems with his urine.
In the meantime the Satellite Police Station continued to harass Zarina, and threatened that her older son could suffer the same fate if she did not produce more bribe money.
Instead we are told that associates of SI Joya arranged for Muddasar to be reclaimed into police custody and further tortured. Assistant Sub-Inspector Ijaz Hussain of Jhal Jhakian Police Station (in the same district, and known to be a close associate of SI Joya) filed an application before the court of Mr. Owais Ahmed, Civil Judge of Sargodha, claiming that Muddasar Iqbal was wanted in another motorcycle theft case under the jurisdiction of his police station. On March 18 the victim was sent into police remand by a civil judge for three days. On his return through the courts the victim was able to tell the judge that he had been severely tortured and was unable to eat properly or walk. The judge ordered him to be sent to civil hospital in Sargodha for two days of treatment.
On March 20 the judge ordered Muddasar to be admitted to Allied Hospital in Faisalabad district. However we are told that Sub-Inspector Azmat and Assistant Sub-Inspector Ijaz forged his papers and sent him back to the civil hospital in Sargodha. He died there at around 2am on March 22. The news has sparked civil protests in the district and media coverage, and a First Investigation Report (FIR) was filed on March 22 by Zarina Bibi.
Although high officials have announced that the officers responsible have been suspended and that an inquiry has been set in motion, we are told that no suspensions have been seen to have taken place, and there have been no signs of an inquiry. District Police Officer, Dr. Usman Anwar has claimed that police are working on the case. The AHRC is concerned that the investigation, should it take place, will be neither thorough nor impartial.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities below urging them to conduct a proper inquiry, bringing all actors in this case to account, including the law enforcement officers and relevant members of the judiciary.
The AHRC has written to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture calling for his intervention into this case.
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
RE: PAKISTAN: Police torture a young man in front of his mother to elicit a bribe; he dies shortly after
Name of victim:
Muddasar Iqbal son of Mansabdar Awan
House number 126, galli no 2,
Millatabad, Sargodha district,
Punjab province
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Sub inspector Azmat Joya,
Satellite town police station,
Sargodha district, Punjab province
2. Head constable Baber Cheema,
Satellite town police station,
Sargodha district, Punjab province
3. Constable Amir Abdullah,
Satellite town police station,
Sargodha district, Punjab province
4. Assistant sub inspector Ijaz Hussain,
Jhal Jhakian police station,
Sargodha district, Punjab province
Date of incident: March 22, 2010
Place of incident: Sargodha civil hospital
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the death of a young man, Muddasar Iqbal, by police torture. He was taken in to custody by the Satellite town police station on February 26, 2010 and was severely tortured for a false case of motorcycle theft. His mother was asked to arrange Rs 50,000 for his release and for her inability to pay this full sum of money, her son was tortured to death in two police stations.
According to information I have received on February 26, plain-clothed police officials of Satellite Town Police Station raided the house of Mr. Muddasar Iqbal, 24, for his arrest in the case of a motorcycle theft. He was not at home, so his elder brother was illegally arrested instead by the Sub-Inspector of Satellite Town Police Station, Mr. Azmat Joya and his staff: Head Constable Babar Cheema and Constable Amir Abdullah.
Later that day Mr. Muddasar’s relatives, including his mother Ms. Zarina Bibi, her brother Mr. Sher Mohammad and his son Manzoor Illahi, went to the police station to enquire about the arrest of her elder son. Inspector Azmat Joya told them that he was a hostage: if she was to bring her younger son, Muddasar Iqbal, to the station, then her elder son would be released. He did not reveal the specific charges. She was told to bring Muddasar to police chowki (kiosk), a sub-police station of Satellite Police Station, and when she did so later that day, Inspector Azmat Joya started to beat the young man, and ordered her to leave.
On February 27 Ms. Zarina Bibi went to the police chowki to find Muddasar fastened to a charpai, a wooden cart, being tortured with a heavy rolling device on his legs and the soles of his feet. Constable Amir Abdullah reportedly charged her Rs. 50,000 for his release; when she replied that this would be impossible the officers allegedly started to stab the soles of the man’s feet with screwdrivers, drawing blood. Ms. Zarina promised to pay the amount.
According to our information she had arranged Rs. 20,000 by the following day and promised police the remainder in a week. However the victim was tortured again. The police officially declared his arrest on March 1 and produced him before the civil magistrate for remand. The magistrate granted judicial custody till March 9 and he was sent to Sargodha District Prison; he was not asked about the possibility of torture, though Muddasar was unable to walk. He complained about problems with his urine.
In the meantime the Satellite Police Station continued to harass Zarina, and threatened that her older son could suffer the same fate if she did not produce more bribe money.
Instead I am aghast to hear that associates of SI Joya were able to arrange for Muddasar to be reclaimed into police custody and further tortured. Assistant Sub-Inspector Ijaz Hussain of Jhal Jhakian Police Station (in the same district, known to be a close associate of SI Joya) filed an application before the court of Mr. Owais Ahmed, Civil Judge of Sargodha, claiming that Muddasar was wanted in another motorcycle theft case under the jurisdiction of his police station. On March 18 the victim was sent into police remand by a civil judge for three days. On his return through the courts the victim was able to tell the judge that he had been severely tortured and was unable to eat properly or walk. The judge ordered him to be sent to civil hospital in Sargodha for two days of treatment.
On March 20 the judge ordered Muddasar to be admitted to Allied Hospital in Faisalabad district. However I am told that Sub-Inspector Azmat and Assistant Sub-Inspector Ijaz forged his papers and sent him back to the civil hospital in Sargodha. He died there at around 2am on March 22. The news has sparked civil protests in the district and media coverage, and a First Investigation Report (FIR) was filed on March 22 by Zarina Bibi.
Although high officials have announced that the officers responsible have been suspended and that an inquiry has been set in motion, I understand that that no such suspensions have been seen to have taken place, and there have been no signs of an inquiry. District Police Officer, Dr. Usman Anwar has claimed that police are working on the case. I am concerned that the investigation, should it take place, will be neither thorough nor impartial.
I am shocked that the torture in custody is a commonplace practice in Pakistan and that the dignity of innocent civilians is routinely compromised in the name of monetary gain. The absence of laws in the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) which criminalize torture at the hands of state agents has ensured its endemic status. The government has signed the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) yet failed to implement these promises in legislation.
I urge you to intervene strongly to ensure that a transparent, credible inquiry is carried out into the death of Muddasar Iqbal. The responsible police officials must be held fully accountable for his murder, and compensation arranged for his family.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111 +92 51 920 6111 +92 51 920 6111 +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk
2. Mr.Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani
Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +9251-9204108
Email: sarfraz_yousuf@yahoo.com
3. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
4. Minister of Law
Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Ravi Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92-42-99212004
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk
5. Chief Secretary of Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 7324489
E-mail: chiefsecy@punjab.gov.pk
6. Mr. Salman Taseer
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
