• • • • • advocating for legal reforms to make torture a criminal offence and to prevent its use by public officials. reviewing detention procedures investigating allegations of torture contributing to training programs for relevant public officials cooperating with international bodies Terms of Reference For this inquiry terms of reference (TOR), were developed, based on the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 Police Order, 2002 Preventing Torture: An Operational Manual for National Human Rights Institutions developed by Asia Pacific Forum Undertaking Effective Investigations: A Guide for National Human Rights Institutions developed by Asia Pacific Forum Manual on Conducting a National Inquiry into Systemic Patterns of Human Rights Violation; The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984 developed by Asia Pacific Forum The Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and The Nelson Mandela Rules Terms of Reference covered the following areas of concern: • • • • The nature and extent of torture committed by jail authorities in Central Jail, Rawalpindi The impact of the torture on individuals The factors which may have caused or contributed to the torture of individuals, including any systemic factors identified through the course of the inquiry Actions that can be taken to prevent human rights violations in Central Jail, Rawalpindi For the purposes of this inquiry, the NCHR team comprising Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha, Member Punjab Mr. Nadeen Ashraf and legal counsel Mr. Waqar and others visited the jail seven times to record, in detail, the statement of Mr Shahab as well as corroborating 10