Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the five police officials allegedly responsible for torturing to death a poet in their custody are still at large. They have not been arrested and the investigation to book them is still ongoing after one month. It is reported that because of the influence of a provincial minister and other legislators from the ruling party the two police stations of the Chiniot district of Punjab province have become notorious for the use of torture. The police receive impunity through the good offices of provincial law minister and his family members.
Examination of the victim’s corpse revealed 29 torture marks on his body and that his fingernails had been torn out. These injuries were inflicted upon the victim within a period of only 24 hours while he was in the custody of the police.
CASE NARRATIVE:
Mr. Mohummad Anwar Sahar son of Mehmood, a resident of Chiniot district, Punjab province, a popular poet, was asked on September 6, to record his statement in the case of one Zahid Arain who was murdered by unknown persons on August 14. He reported to the police at Langrana Police Station in the presence of some notables of the area. The Police Station House Officer (SHO) sub inspector Zaffar Witto and investigation officer (IO) of the murder case, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Jafar Wittoof told the notables that they will question him for the investigation of the murder case and he will be freed after some time so they should return to their work. However, on the night of the 7 September the poet was shifted in severe condition to another police station, the Bhawana police station, and in the morning of 8 September people came to know that Sahar had died of the severe torture inflicted on him during the investigation.
The people held demonstrations and rallies and all the commercial establishments in the area were closed in protest against the police torture and his death in custody. The high police officials quickly sent the body for autopsy to control the violent mob. The post mortem report found 29 injury marks on his body and that his fingernails had been torn out. The district police officer (DPO) Rana Shahzad Iqbal immediately ordered an inquiry and suspended the SHO Zaffar Witto, IO Jafar Witto and three other police officials.
However, after almost one month no inquiry has been initiated nor has any police officer been arrested. It is reported that because of the alleged support of a provincial minister and other legislators from Chiniot and Faisalabad districts from the ruling party of the province to police officers of the Langrana and Bhawana police stations it is not possible to arrest the perpetrtors.
Due to the absence of the legislation against the torture in custody and ill treatment the law enforcement agencies enjoy impunity through the law.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write the letters to the authorities showing your concern about the death of a poet in police custody by police torture. Please urge them to prosecute the police officers whose names are mentioned in the FIR for the murder of the poet and also hold a departmental inquiry against the DPO and other high officials of the Chiniot district for their negligence in effecting the arrest of the accused persons.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment calling for his intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
PAKISTAN: Impunity to police officials who tortured a poet to death in custody
Name of victim: Mr. Mohummad Anwar Sahar son of Mehmood, resident of Village Chuck number 233, Rmana, -B South, Chiniot district, Punjab province
Names of alleged perpetrators: (1) Sub Inspector Zaffar Witto, station house officer (SHO), Langrana police station, Chiniot district, Punjab province, (2) Assitant Inspector Jafar Witto, Investigation Officer, Langrana police station, Chiniot district, Punjab province
Date of incident: September 8, 2011
Place of incident: Langrana police station, Chiniot district, Punjab province
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the death of a poet during torture in custody by the police officials of Langrana police station, Chiniot district, Punjab province.
I am shocked to learn that he was tortured to obtain a confession in a murder case and that there were 29 marks of injury on his body. More appalling is the fact that his fingernails had been ripped out. The responsible police officials of the torture in custody have still not been arrested though they are suspended from duty on the charges of killing and torture.
I learned that Mr. Mohummad Anwar Sahar son of Mehmood, resident of Chiniot district, Punjab province, a popular poet, was asked on September 6, to record his statement in the murder case of one Zahid Arain who was murdered by unknown persons on August 14. He reported to police at Langrana police station in the presence of some notables of the area. The Police Station House Officer (SHO) sub inspector Zaffar Witto and investigation officer (IO) of the murder case, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Jafar Wittoof told the notables that they will question him for the investigation of the murder case and he will be freed after some time so they should return to their work. However, on the night of the 7 September the poet was shifted in severe condition to another police station, the Bhawana police station, and in the morning of 8 September people came to know that Sahar had died of the severe torture inflicted on him during the investigation.
The people held demonstrations and rallies and all the commercial establishments in the area were closed in protest against the police torture and his death in custody. The high police officials quickly sent the body for autopsy to control the violent mob. The post mortem report found 29 injury marks on his body and that his fingernails had been torn out. The district police officer (DPO) Rana Shahzad Iqbal immediately ordered an inquiry and suspended the SHO Zaffar Witto, IO Jafar Witto and three other police officials.
I am shocked to know that Mr. Sahar was not formally arrested but died of torture inflicted on him during his custody. This method of interrogation is the general practice of the police and many human rights organizations have pointed out this menace but the government always remains indifferent. Because of the absence of a proper investigation system torture has become endemic to get the confessional statements.
It is very distressing that after passing of almost one month no inquiry has been initiated nor has any police officer been arrested. It is reported that because of the alleged support of a provincial minister and other legislators from Chiniot and Faisalabad districts from the ruling party of the province to police officers of the Langrana and Bhawana police stations it is not possible to arrest the perpetrators.
Due to the absence of a law against torture the perpetrators always get impunity from the crimes they commit on a daily basis. The torture has become endemic but the legislature and the government do not take the matter of torture in custody seriously although it has ratified the Convention against Torture (CAT).
I urge you to properly investigate the murder of a poet in police custody by torture by an independent authority and prosecute the perpetrators. Please also pay the compensation to the family members of the victim. I also urge that government should legislate the law against the torture and ill treatment according to the definition of CAT.
Yours sincerely
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President’s Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: 92-51-9204801-9214171
Fax 92-51-9207458
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk
2. Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk or pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
3. Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: sarfraz_yousuf@yahoo.com
4. Mr. Lateef Khosa
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk
5. Mr Nasir Mehmood Khosa
Chief Secretary of Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 7324489
E-mail: chiefsecy@punjab.gov.pk
6. Mr. Rana Sana Ullah
Minister of Law
Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Ravi Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99212004
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk
7. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
8. Mr. Tariq Saleem
Inspector-General of Police, Punjab
Police Head Office, Lahore, Punjab province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 9921006
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
