KARACHI: Punjab police have reportedly started establishing private torture cells after surveillance cameras were installed in prison cells.
Gujjarpura police have turned the forest office into a torture cell where six people have been illegally detained and subjected to torture for several days. Bones of a youth have been broken as a result of torture. Those confined in the office include a shopkeeper, trader and students.
Capital City Police Officer Lahore BA Nasir has directed for inquiry into torture cells and has sought a report from the DIG Operations Gujjarpura police station in this regard.
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“Establishing torture cells is unlawful from any aspect. If allegations are found to be true in the inquiry report then strict action would be taken,” said the CCPO.
Earlier in June, while introducing reforms in ‘thana culture’ (police culture), the Punjab Police had for the first time installed surveillance cameras in prison cells to avoid incidents of tortures.
Punjab Police Inspector General Captain (retd) Arif Nawaz Khan had said close circuit television cameras had been installed in prison cells of all 722 police stations across the province.
The cameras had been installed following the rising complaints of torture on suspects inside lock ups. Police had said rights of suspects could be ensured through installation of the cameras.
The IG had also directed the relevant police officers to integrate the system with central police office’s monitoring and control room for effective monitoring of these cameras.
He had directed the regional and district police officers to undertake the process of installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations of the districts and ranges under their supervision without any delay and all RPOs should ensure 24/7 monitoring of these cameras.
