Torture and custodial death prevention and punishment act 2022 in Urdu.
ٹارچر اینڈ کسٹوڈیل ڈیتھ (روک تھام اور سزا) ایکٹ، 2022، میں کئی اہم خصوصیات شامل ہیں جو سرکاری اہلکاروں کی طرف سے تشدد اور حراست میں ہونے والی موت کی کارروائیوں کو روکنے اور سزا دینے کے لیے بنائی گئی ہیں۔ یہاں اہم خصوصیات ہیں:
1. **دائرہ کار اور قابل اطلاق**:
- یہ ایکٹ پورے پاکستان تک پھیلا ہوا ہے اور نافذ ہونے کے فوراً بعد نافذ ہو جاتا ہے۔
2. **واضح تعریفیں**:
- اہم اصطلاحات کی وضاحت کرتا ہے جیسے "تشدد،" "حراست،" "حراست میں موت،" "حفاظتی عصمت دری،" اور "عوامی اہلکار۔"
- "تشدد" کو شدید جسمانی درد یا کسی سرکاری اہلکار کے ذریعہ یا اس کی رضامندی سے جان بوجھ کر دی گئی تکلیف کے طور پر بیان کیا جاتا ہے۔
3. **شواہد کی ناقابل قبولیت**:
- تشدد کے ذریعے حاصل کیا گیا کوئی بھی اعتراف یا معلومات قانونی کارروائی میں ناقابل قبول ہے۔
- سرکاری اہلکار جو جان بوجھ کر ایسی معلومات استعمال کرتے ہیں انہیں قید یا جرمانے کا سامنا کرنا پڑتا ہے۔
4. **حراست میں خواتین کا تحفظ**:
خواتین کو معلومات یا ثبوت حاصل کرنے کے لیے حراست میں نہیں لیا جا سکتا۔
- صرف خواتین سرکاری اہلکار خواتین کو تحویل میں لے سکتی ہیں یا رکھ سکتی ہیں۔
5. **خصوصی دائرہ اختیار اور تفتیش**:
- وفاقی تحقیقاتی ایجنسی (ایف آئی اے) کے پاس سرکاری اہلکاروں کے خلاف شکایات کی تحقیقات کا خصوصی دائرہ اختیار ہے۔
- اگر تشدد کا شبہ ہو تو مجسٹریٹ طبی معائنے کا حکم دے سکتے ہیں اور تشدد کی تصدیق ہونے پر ایف آئی اے کو مطلع کرنا چاہیے۔
6. **آزمائشی طریقہ کار**:
- سیشن عدالتوں کو اس ایکٹ کے تحت جرائم کی سماعت کرنے کا خصوصی اختیار حاصل ہے۔
- محدود التواء کی اجازت کے ساتھ ٹرائلز میں تیزی لائی جائے گی۔
7. **عوامی اہلکاروں کا احتساب**:
- زیر تفتیش سرکاری اہلکاروں کو گرفتاری کے 24 گھنٹے کے اندر مطلع کرنا ضروری ہے۔
- تشدد کے ارتکاب کے ابتدائی ثبوت کے ساتھ پائے جانے والے اہلکاروں کو معطل یا تبدیل کیا جانا چاہئے۔
- سزا یافتہ اہلکاروں کو عوامی فرائض انجام دینے سے روک دیا جاتا ہے جب تک کہ اپیل پر بری نہ کیا جائے۔
8. **سزا**:
- **تشدد**: سزائیں پاکستان پینل کوڈ کے باب XVI کے مطابق ہیں۔
- **حراست میں موت**: سزائیں پاکستان پینل کوڈ کی دفعہ 302 کے مطابق ہیں۔
- **کسٹوڈیل ریپ**: ریپ کے لیے موجودہ قوانین کے تحت سزا دی جاتی ہے۔
- **مالافائیڈ شکایات**: جھوٹے الزام لگانے والوں کو وہی سزائیں دی جاتی ہیں جو اس ایکٹ کے تحت ملزمان پر عائد ہوتی ہیں۔
9. **اپیل اور ٹائم لائنز**:
- سزا یا بری ہونے کے 30 دنوں کے اندر اپیل دائر کی جانی چاہیے۔
- تحقیقات کو 30 دنوں کے اندر مکمل کیا جانا چاہیے، ممکنہ مختصر توسیع کے ساتھ۔
- ٹرائلز تین ہفتوں کے اندر مکمل ہونے چاہئیں۔
- اپیلوں کا فیصلہ 30 دنوں کے اندر کیا جانا ہے۔
10. **خصوصی تحفظ**:
- متاثرین، شکایت کنندگان، یا انتقام کے خوف سے گواہ تحفظ کے لیے درخواست دے سکتے ہیں۔
- عدالت کو تحفظ کی درخواستوں پر تین دن کے اندر فیصلہ کرنا ہوگا۔
11. **سول علاج**:
- یہ ایکٹ متاثرین کے لیے دستیاب کسی شہری علاج کو متاثر نہیں کرتا ہے۔
12. **عوامی بیداری اور تربیت**:
- حکومت سے ضروری ہے کہ وہ ایکٹ کی تشہیر کرے اور متعلقہ سرکاری اہلکاروں کے لیے وقتاً فوقتاً تربیت فراہم کرے۔
13. **قاعدہ سازی کی اتھارٹی**:
- متعلقہ ڈویژن ایکٹ کے نفاذ کو آسان بنانے کے لیے قواعد بنا سکتا ہے۔
14. **اوور رائیڈنگ اثر**:
- اس ایکٹ کی دفعات کسی بھی متضاد قوانین پر فوقیت رکھتی ہیں۔
ان خصوصیات کا مقصد اجتماعی طور پر اس بات کو یقینی بنانا ہے کہ تشدد، حراست میں ہونے والی اموات، اور حراستی عصمت دری کو مؤثر طریقے سے مجرمانہ اور روکا جائے، احتساب اور متاثرین کے تحفظ کے لیے قانونی ڈھانچہ فراہم کیا جائے۔
The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act, 2022, includes several key features designed to prevent and punish acts of torture and custodial deaths by public officials. Here are the main features:
1. **Scope and Applicability**:
- The Act extends to the whole of Pakistan and comes into force immediately upon enactment.
2. **Clear Definitions**:
- Defines crucial terms like "torture," "custody," "custodial death," "custodial rape," and "public official."
- "Torture" is specified as severe physical pain or suffering inflicted intentionally by or with the consent of a public official.
3. **Inadmissibility of Evidence**:
- Any confession or information obtained through torture is inadmissible in legal proceedings.
- Public officials who knowingly use such information face imprisonment or fines.
4. **Protection of Females in Custody**:
- Females cannot be detained to extract information or evidence.
- Only female public officials can take or hold females in custody.
5. **Exclusive Jurisdiction and Investigation**:
- The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has exclusive jurisdiction to investigate complaints against public officials.
- Magistrates can order medical examinations if torture is suspected and must notify the FIA if torture is confirmed.
6. **Trial Procedures**:
- Sessions Courts have exclusive jurisdiction to try offences under this Act.
- Trials are to be expedited, with limited adjournments allowed.
7. **Accountability of Public Officials**:
- Public officials under investigation must be informed within 24 hours of arrest.
- Officials found with prima facie evidence of committing torture must be suspended or transferred.
- Convicted officials are barred from performing public duties unless acquitted on appeal.
8. **Punishments**:
- **Torture**: Punishments align with those in Chapter XVI of the Pakistan Penal Code.
- **Custodial Death**: Punishments align with Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
- **Custodial Rape**: Punished under existing laws for rape.
- **Malafide Complaints**: False accusers face the same penalties as those accused under this Act.
9. **Appeals and Timelines**:
- Appeals must be filed within 30 days of conviction or acquittal.
- Investigations must be completed within 30 days, with possible short extensions.
- Trials must be concluded within three weeks.
- Appeals are to be decided within 30 days.
10. **Special Protection**:
- Victims, complainants, or witnesses fearing retribution can petition for protection.
- The court must decide on protection petitions within three days.
11. **Civil Remedies**:
- The Act does not affect any civil remedies available to victims.
12. **Public Awareness and Training**:
- The government is required to publicize the Act and provide periodic training for relevant public officials.
13. **Rule-Making Authority**:
- The concerned division can make rules to facilitate the Act’s implementation.
14. **Overriding Effect**:
- The provisions of this Act take precedence over any conflicting laws.
These features collectively aim to ensure that acts of torture, custodial deaths, and custodial rapes are effectively criminalized and prevented, providing a legal framework for accountability and victim protection.
[AS PASSED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY]
A
Bill
to provide protection to a person during custody from all acts of torture
perpetrated by public officials
WHEREAS, Pakistan is a party to the United Nations Convention
against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or
Punishments 1984 and it is imperative to make law for its effective
implementation;
AND WHEREAS, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan guarantees the dignity of man as mentioned in Article 14;
AND WHEREAS, it is expedient to enact a law for the prevention
and criminalization of all acts of torture;
It is hereby enacted as follows:—
1.
Short title, extent and commencement.— (1) This Act may
be called the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment)
Act, 2022.
(2)
It extends to the whole of Pakistan.
(3)
It shall come into force at once.
2.
Definitions.— (1) In this Act, unless there is anything
repugnant in the subject or context,
(a) “Agency” means The Federal Investigation Agency
constituted under the Federal Investigation Act, 1974 (VIII of
1975);
(b) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V
of 1898);
(c) “complaint” means allegations made orally or in writing to
the Agency that a public official or a person working in an
official capacity has committed an offence under this Act;
(d) “complainant” means any person filing a complaint, upon
having reliable information of the commission of an offence
under this Act, or his representative as the case may be;
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(e) “concerned division” means the Ministry or department to
which the business of the Act stands allocated;
(f) “custody” includes all situations where a person is detained
or deprived of his liberty by any person, including a public
official or by any other person working in an official capacity
irrespective of legality nature and any place of such
detention.
Explanation I.- It includes judicial custody and all forms of
temporary and permanent restraint upon the movement of a
person by law or by force or by other means; and
Explanation II.- A person shall be deemed to be in custody
during search, arrest and seizure proceedings;
(g) “cruel” or “inhuman” or “degrading treatment” means and
includes any deliberate or aggravated treatment inflicted by
a public official or a person acting on his behalf against a
person under their custody, causing suffering, gross
humiliation or degradation of the person in custody;
(h) “custodial death” means the death of a person while in
custody, directly or indirectly caused by and attributable to
acts of torture committed upon the deceased while in
custody;
Explanation I.- Custodial death includes death occurring in
police, private or medical premises, in a public place or in a
police or other vehicle or in jail. It includes death occurring
while a person is being arrested or taken into detention or
being questioned; and
Explanation II.- Custodial death also includes all cases
where the death of a person after his release from custody is
directly caused by and may be substantially attributed to
acts committed upon the deceased while in custody;
(i) “custodial rape” means and includes any person taking
advantage of his position and committing rape or sexual
abuse on a person in his custody or in custody of a public
official subordinate to him;
(j) “Government” means the Federal Government or the
Provincial Government, as the case may be;
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(k) “malafide complaint” means a complaint filed against any
person, including a public official with malafide intentions
or other ulterior motives or to harass such person or public
official;
(l) “person” shall have the same meaning as assigned thereto in
section 11 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of
1860);
(m)“public official” for the purpose of this Act means every
person who holds any office by virtue of which he is
empowered to place or keep any person in confinement,
every officer of the Government whose duty it is, as such
officer, to prevent offences, to investigate, and to give
information of offences.
Explanation.- Wherever the words “Public official” occur,
they shall be understood as every person who is in actual
possession of a public office, whatever legal defect there may
be in that person’s right to hold that position;
(n) “torture” means an act committed by which severe physical
pain or physical suffering, is intentionally inflicted on a
person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third
person information or a confession, punishing him for an
act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of
having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third
person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any
kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the
instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public
official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does
not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in
or incidental to lawful sanctions; and
(o) “victim” or “aggrieved person” means any person who alleges
that an offence under this Act has been committed against
him.
(2)
All the words and phrases used but not defined in this Act
shall have the same meaning as defined in the Pakistan Penal Code,
1860 (Act XLV of 1860).
3.
Inadmissibility of statement extracted through torture.—
(1) Any statement, information or confession obtained by a public official
as a result of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment shall be
inadmissible evidence in any proceedings against the person making it.
4
(2)
A public official who knowingly uses such information under
sub-section (1) shall be liable for imprisonment which may not exceed
one year or with fine which may not exceed hundred thousand rupees of
both.
(3)
Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and
(2), any information or confession obtained as a result of torture or cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment shall be admitted as evidence against a
person accused of committing the offence of torture. These provision
shall be in addition to the provisions of section 37 and 38 of the Qanoone-Shahdat, Order 1984 (P.O. No. X of 1984).
4.
Custody of females.— (1) No female shall be detained in
order to extract information regarding the whereabouts of a person
accused of any offence or to extract evidence from such female.
(2)
No female shall be taken or held in custody by a male except
by a female public official lawfully authorized to do so.
5.
Investigation of offences.— (1) Notwithstanding anything
contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Agency shall
have the exclusive jurisdiction to investigate the complaints against any
public officials who have committed offence under this Act:
Provided that the Agency shall investigate the complaints under the
supervision of National Commission for Human Rights.
(2)
If at any time, including during the grant of physical remand
under the Code, the Magistrate has reasonable grounds to believe that
the offence under this Act is committed or a complaint of torture is
lodged by the person in custody, he shall order a medical examination
and if the results of such examination reveal infliction of torture, he shall
notify the Agency to investigate such offence.
(3)
The Agency, while investigating the offences under this Act,
shall have the same powers and shall follow the same procedure as
prescribed in the Federal Investigation Agency Act, 1974 (Act VIII of
1975) and the rules made thereunder.
6.
Trial of offences.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained
in any other law for the time being in force, the Court of Sessions shall
have exclusive jurisdiction to try offences under this Act.
(2)
No adjournment shall be granted during the trial save for the
interest of justice, provided that if such an adjournment is granted it
shall be not more than thirty days.
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7.
Intimation to the concerned Government department and
transfer or suspension of public official.— (1) The Agency, while
investigating a public official who is accused of an offence under this Act,
shall within twenty-four hours of arrest, inform the competent authority
to which the public official is accountable, of the nature of the
proceedings against him.
(2)
Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the
time being in force, a public official when accused of an offence under
this Act shall forthwith be suspended or transferred to a different
location from the location in which the alleged offence was committed,
after completion of a departmental enquiry within 7 days, giving a finding
that there is prima facie evidence of commission of offence under this Act
by the public official.
(3)
Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the
time being in force, a public official when convicted of an offence under
this Act shall not perform any public duty unless acquitted by the
appellate court.
Explanation I.- In this section, the “competent authority” shall
mean the appointing authority as prescribed in the service rules of the
relevant Government.
Explanation II.- It is clarified that this section, except sub-section
(3), shall only apply when a court of law finds a strong prima facie
evidence against a public official with regard to the commission of an
offence under this Act.
8.
Punishment for torture.— Any public official who commits
or abets or conspires to commit torture shall be punished with the same
punishment as prescribed for the type of harm provided in Chapter XVI
of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Explanation.- The offence under this section shall be cognizable,
non-compoundable and non-bailable within the meaning of the Code.
9.
Punishment for custodial death.— Whoever commits or
abets or conspires to commit the offence of custodial death, shall be
punished with the same punishment as prescribed in section 302 of the
Pakistan Penal Code.
Explanation. The offence under this section shall be cognizable,
compoundable and non-bailable within the meaning of the Code.
10. Punishment for custodial rape.— Whoever commits or abets
the offence of custodial rape, shall be dealt with and punished under the
6
law and procedure for rape, and the provisions of this Act shall also be
applicable to the accused, mutatis mutandis.
Explanation.- The offences under this section shall be cognizable,
compoundable and non-bailable within the meaning of the Code.
11. Punishment for filing malafide complaints.— Whoever files
a malafide complaint shall, after it is established that the complaint was
malafide, be punished with the same punishment as is prescribed under
section 8 for the perpetrators under this Act.
12. Appeals.— (1) An appeal against a conviction or acquittal of an
offence under this Act shall be presented before the respective High
Court within thirty days from the date on which copy of the order passed
by the Court of Sessions is supplied to the appellant.
(2)
An appeal against conviction shall not be admitted unless
part of the amount, imposed in the form of fine as directed by the
appellate court, is deposited in the court.
13. Time limit for investigation, trial and appeal.— (1) The
investigation of the offences under this Act shall be completed within
thirty days from the date of submission of the complaint.
(2)
If the investigation of an offence under this Act is not
completed within thirty days, the Agency shall call for a report for
explaining the delay in completion of the investigation and if satisfied
with the causes of delay, may grant maximum five days for completion of
the investigation or if the Agency is not satisfied with the causes of delay,
may transfer the investigation to another investigating officer who shall
take up and complete the investigation from the same stage where it was
left by his predecessor.
(3)
If investigation of an offence is not completed with thirty days,
the Agency shall also file an interim report before the Court of Session
and the court may decide to initiate the trial on the basis of such
information.
(4)
The trial of offences under this Act shall be completed within
three weeks from the date of submission of challan before the relevant
court.
(5)
The appeal against the offences under this Act shall be
decided within thirty days from the date of filing of such appeal.
14. Special protection.— (1) Any person, including the victim or
complainant or any witnesses, who allege that he requires protection
from a person accused of having committed an offence under this Act or
from any of his associates, shall file a petition to the Court of Sesion in
this regard.
(2)
The court receiving the petition, after giving notice to the
concerned parties, shall hear the matter and pass an order on the
petition within three days.
(3)
The court while disposing of such a petition as mentioned in
sub-section (1) shall make such orders as deemed necessary and
appropriate according to the facts and circumstances of the case.
15. Act not to prejudice civil remedies.— Nothing in this Act
shall prejudice the civil remedies available to the victim by virtue of any
other law for the time being in force.
16. Overriding effect.— The provisions of this Act shall have
effect notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time
being in force.
17. Provisions of the Code to apply.— The provisions of the
Code shall apply to the proceedings under this Act.
18. Duties of the Government.— The Government shall take all
measures to ensure that the provisions of this Act are given wide
publicity through media at regular intervals and;
the relevant public officials are given periodic sensitization and
awareness training on the issues addressed in this Act.
19. Removal of difficulties.— If any difficulty arises in the
implementation of the provisions of this Act, the concerned division may
make such orders, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as
may appear to it to be appropriate for removing such difficulty:
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a
period of two years after the enactment of this Act.
20. Power to make rules.— The concerned division may, by
notification in the official Gazette, make rules for the purpose of carrying
out the objects and purposes of this Act.
_________
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND RESAONS
It is the duty of the State to provide protection, either directly or by
means of Institutional mechanism to its citizens against all kind of
torture and right to fair trial. Moreover, Pakistan is a signatory to the UN
Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading
Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) and International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights (ICCPR), both of which protect the right to dignity of
any person who has been held in custody. Despite constitutional
provisions and guarantees, there is no precise definition or penalization
of the acts of torture within the criminal law regime of Pakistan.
Therefore, the object of the Bill is to criminalize and prevent acts of
torture, custodial death and custodial rape committed against persons
held in custody by public officials, and provide redress to the victims of
such acts.
2.
This Bill seeks to achieve the aforesaid objective.
(Minister for Interior)
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