ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed deep concern over the “worst forms of torture” inflicted on the people of Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir by the occupying powers.
The Foreign Office, in a statement on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, said Pakistan stands in solidarity with the victims of torture worldwide and reaffirms its continued commitment to eradicating torture and upholding human dignity.
The statement added that the people of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue to be subjected to the worst forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the occupying powers to suppress their right to self-determination.
Since the launch of its military offensive in October 2023, Israeli forces have killed 56,156 Palestinians and injured 132,239 others in the Gaza Strip, according to recent figures.
A newly released report by a human rights watchdog has shed light on the “shocking” conditions faced by Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody.
The report documents widespread allegations of mistreatment and abuse, raising serious concerns about violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
On this day, Pakistan reiterates its call on the international community to condemn the crimes of these occupying powers and to hold them accountable, in addition to helping end the plight of the victims of their torture and oppression.
The Foreign Office said Islam upholds the sanctity and dignity of every human being.
“Any act of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment is incompatible with the values of justice, mercy, and compassion that are at the core of Islamic teachings,” it said.
The statement added that guided by these values and its international obligations, Pakistan remains committed to eradicating torture and strengthening protections for all individuals.
It said legal reforms, institutional safeguards, and oversight mechanisms continue to be strengthened by Pakistan to ensure accountability and uphold the rule of law.
Measures are also being taken to provide victims with medical, legal, and psycho-social support.
“Pakistan remains gravely concerned at the widespread and systematic use of torture as an instrument of oppression in situations of foreign occupation,” it concluded.
The United Nations General Assembly designated June 26 as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
The date commemorates the entry into force of the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 1987.
Earlier on Wednesday at the UN Security Council, Pakistan highlighted the plight of children, especially in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine.
In a statement during the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said children living under foreign occupation are particularly vulnerable to human rights abuses and violence.
