LAHORE: The members of Punjab Assembly, civil servants, lawyers and civil society activists pledged to strive for bringing structural changes in the relevant laws and conduct of law enforcement agencies to put a check on rampant practices of torture.
The resolve was demonstrated during a Regional Consultation organized by SACH a non-government organization on the topic–Struggle for Change in Legislative, Administrative and Policy Measures to Eradicate Torture in Pakistan.
Besides members of Punjab Assembly, Assistant Inspector General Prisons Doctor Qadeer, retired judges, advocates of Supreme Court and High Court, Deputy Secretary Health Department, senior media personnel and anchorpersons attended the event held on March 29.
Provincial spokesperson of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and and member of Provincial Assembly, Uzma Kardar stated that the PTI Government believes in rule
of law and supremacy of democratic institutions. She said that the Prime Minister Imran Khan is committed to bring structural changes in the system with an aim to develop a peaceful, prosperous and judicious society.
Sadia Sohail, another Punjab Assembly member from the ruling party expressed regret on increasing trend of torture in the society. She urged to promote better ethical and moral values in the society by raising awareness in the masses.
Senior Advocate Supreme Court and Ex-Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Azhar Siddique proposed establishing a torture eradication authority at federal as well as provincial levels. He also proposed holding an All Parties’ Conference to address growing intolerance and torture in the society.
Torture in different shapes has trickled into every walk of life and is becoming a norm, he added He also proposed anti-torture courses in curricula to sensitize the masses.
Chairman Istaqlal Party and Senior Advocate Supreme Court, Manzoor Gillani stated that promotion of democratic values and rule of law is the key to eradicate torture from the society.
Executive Director of a prominent media group and TV anchor, Nasrullah Malik deliberated in depth on the plight of common man facing torture at the hands of police. He mentioned that there is only one forensic lab to cater to an almost 100 million population of Punjab, leading to use of torture for extracting confessions from the accused as opposed to use of modern techniques for investigations. 
Khalida Salimi, Executive Director SACH stressed to ensure unethical torture techniques be stopped from law enforcement agencies during investigations from persons in custody. The legislatures should enact laws to strictly ban torture tools from police stations. This she said, would be first step towards a torture free society.
Majid Bashir, a former civil judge and senior advocate Supreme Court gave presentation on the legal framework of PPC and UNCAT
