On 30 March 2012 a well-known and much loved Ahmadi Muslim, Mr Master Abdul Qudoos Ahmad (43), died after succumbing to injuries inflicted during brutal torture by local police in Rabwah, Pakistan. He was a well known government school teacher in education department. Mr Master Abdul Qudoos Ahmad was the President of the Nusrat Abad chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Rabwah. We demand justice for Master Abdul Qadoos and hope that Punjab and federal governments will pay urgent attention to this case and punish the culprits involved.

No looking back for us
by Abbas Nasir

WHO was Master Abdul Qudoos Ahmad? How would you know even if you care? The 43-year-old schoolteacher’s story received scant attention in the media.

Described by his students and peers as a well-known and ‘much-loved’ schoolteacher, perhaps far more ominously for him, he was also the president of the Nusratabad chapter of the Jamaat-i-Ahmadiyya in Rabwah.

He was taken into custody on Feb 10 after a murder in his area. There were no warrants, no police remand. Since the man was never formally charged or even remanded in police custody, wouldn’t one be right in assuming him to be innocent?

While in custody, apart from the routine ‘hang him upside down and beat him black and blue till he confesses’, the schoolteacher was also pinned to the floor by policemen holding his legs and arms and a weighted wooden down roller run over him causing untold internal injuries.

He was released without charge some 46, yes 46, days later. In fact, his family were told by the police to take him home as he was unwell. He had been subjected to severe torture. The family were made to sign a blank piece of paper.

From the police station, the family took Master Qudoos to hospital where doctors tried to revive his crushed body. Four days later, ongoing ‘internal bleeding and severe loss of blood’ drained whatever life the police had left in his body.There may be elements of the case I may not be familiar with but it is clear he was kept in illegal confinement for a month and a half and subjected to torture. The local community believes he was thus treated because biased policemen wanted to defame and
humiliate the Ahmadis and did so by targeting a respected community leader.

The police have now admitted Master Abdul Qudoos was ‘innocent’ and have promised action against some constables (with no known arrests) but crucial questions remain about the level of involvement as an innocent man was held and tortured at a police station not in some private jail.

Surely, some senior officers would have heard him screaming for mercy, been aware of the torture. Would you blame members of the persecuted and hounded Ahmadi community for believing they won’t get justice because soon the case will be forgotten by all but the victim’s widow and four children?

I wouldn’t because they are right in all probability. Let me share with you why I feel so. The incident came into focus because activists raised it on social media though to be fair a Pakistani TV channel or two also covered the story in passing.However, one’s attention was drawn to it, as a Twitter discussion developed on why the media and others weren’t following up on a police torture death in custody with the same vigour as a slap by a Sindh Assembly candidate, or for example the killing of a suspect by the Rangers in a Karachi park.

The obvious question was whether the human rights of some — in this case the most basic right to life of an Ahmadi — had precedence over the others’. Despite being nearly certain this was the case, one still put the hypothesis to test, perhaps rather naively.

Twitter is monitored by all major political parties, many government functionaries. Some of the more responsive personalities on Twitter are Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

Yes, I know some of you will say that these personalities don’t manage their Twitter accounts themselves and aides look after them. The argument here is not whether they read and respond to Tweets themselves or someone else does, it is in their names.

For example after Osama bin Laden’s killing in Abbottabad last May, Indian NDTV presenter Barkha Dutt tweeted, asking Rehman Malik for a visa. The interior minister responded, telling her who to contact at the Pakistan mission in New Delhi. A few days later she arrived in Islamabad.

There are similar examples of Shahbaz Sharif, who has responded to tweets positively off and on. Maryam Nawaz Sharif always responds whenever one has sought her attention and defends her party’s position. She promises to ask the Punjab government to look into an issue like she did when someone asked her for a laptop.

So, when Master Abdul Qudoos Ahmad’s tragic story came into the public domain one requested many official/party functionaries to look into the matter so justice could be provided to his shattered family.

Guess what? There wasn’t a single response: a silence as dark as the darkness that must fill the lives of Abdul Qudoos’s family.

Isn’t it enough we ruled on their faith and legislated them out of the folds of Islam? Couldn’t we stop there?

Esteemed columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee often quoted from the address of the Quaid-i-Azam to the members of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly, on Aug 11, 1947:

“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the state … We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state … I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in due course Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the state.”

Jinnah died on Sept 11, 1948. Exactly six months and a day after his death, we buried his dream, adopted the Objectives Resolution and made religion the business of the state. And we haven’t felt the need to look back since.

The writer is a former editor of Dawn.

abbas.nasir@hotmail.com

Source: Dawn

………….

AKISTAN: In a hate campaign against the Ahmadis the police tortured to death an innocent school teacher

April 3, 2012

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-057-2012

3 April 2012
———————————————————————
PAKISTAN: In a hate campaign against the Ahmadis the police tortured to death an innocent school teacher

ISSUES: Torture; ill-treatment; arbitrary arrest; religious minority groups; impunity; rule of law
———————————————————————

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the illegal arrest, detention and custodial torture which led to the death of Mr Abdul Qudoos Ahmad, a school teacher and the president of the Nusrat Abad chapter of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, by the Chenab Nagar police. He was kept in illegal detention by the police for 35 days during which he was tortured without mercy. The torture included the victim being hung upside down by his ankles for long periods. On other occasions he was forced to lay flat on his back while a heavy wooden roller, similar to those used to flatten cricket pitches, was rolled over his body. His captors stood on either side making sure he could not escape the torment.

CASE NARRATIVE:

Mr. Abdul Qudoos Ahmad (43), a well respected school teacher, belonging to the Ahmadiyya sect was tortured to death while in police custody in Chenab Nagar (the Ahmadi community refers to it by its old name of Rabwah), Punjab province. He was taken into custody by the police on 10 February 2012 and was kept in a private torture cell of the police until 26 March when his condition deteriorated due to the severe torture he endured. He remained in police custody for 35 days with any charges being laid against him and was not officially arrested. He was forced to confess to the murder of one, Muhammad Yousuf, a stamp-paper seller from the Nusrat Abad area who was murdered a few months earlier. During the illegal detention Mr. Qudoos was deprived from access to any the legal aid was not provided.

According to information received from the Muslim Times, Express Tribune and Ahmadiyya Jamaat during custody, the victim was hung upside down by his ankles for long periods. On other occasions he was forced to lay flat on his back while a heavy wooden roller, similar to those used to flatten cricket pitches, was rolled over his body. His captors stood on either side making sure he could not escape the torment. Such inhumane and merciless treatment led to multiple organ failure and other physical injuries. The aforementioned methods of torture are but a few examples of the torment inflicted on him in a demonstration of hatred against the Ahmadis by the law enforcers.

The police officials continued the torture throughout the illegal detention and when Mr. Qudoos’ physical condition deteriorated due to the heartless and callous treatment the police forced a family member to place his signature of a piece of blank paper and take him back home. Mr. Qudoos was released on 26 March 2012 and his family sought immediate medical attention for him. Despite the best efforts of the family and doctors he was unable to recover and on 30 March 2012 he passed away in the hospital.

According to the version filed by the police only two subordinate officers were mentioned in their report. Station House Officer (SHO) Mr. Khadim Hussain of the Chenab Nagar police registered a police case only against sub inspectors, Sujhat Ali and Manazar Ali, under sections 302, 148, 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. In this manner, impunity was assured to the real murderers including SHO Khadim Hussain and other police officials.

It is with the connivance of a provincial law minister that the Punjab provincial police have been able to hide the criminal practice of the police of keeping suspects in illegal detention for months during which time they are tortured to get confessional statements and bribes. The provincial law minister has been instrumental in sheltering the high officials of the police from involvement in these heinous crimes. These officers include the District Police Officer (DPO), the highest police officer of the district, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), under whom the police station of Chenab Nagar comes, and the officer in charge of the police station, SHO Khadim Hussain.

The brother-in-law of the victim, Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed stated that Mr. Qudoos’ was brutally tortured during interrogations, causing severe internal injuries. He accused the police that when the teacher was released the police threatened the family members to hush up the matter. According to Mr. Imtiaz Mr. Qudoos was admitted to a local hospital where he died due to excessive loss of blood.

It is unbelievable that a man could be kept in a police station for 35 days and continuously tortured and the SHO and other high officials including the DSP of the concerned police station knew nothing about the incident. This criminal act by the district police has been covered up under guise of releasing the prisoner to hide the illegal and supra constitutional behavior of the police.

The Punjab government has yet not started any investigation in to the incident of arbitrary detention, torture and misuse of police power against the concerned police officers. It is a very well known fact the provincial government and particularly the provincial law minister have connections with Muslim fundamentalists groups and banned Islamic organizations who are very much against the Ahmadis and who have been involved in the killings of Ahmadis and Shias, the second largest Muslim sect.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The illegal dentition and torture clearly violated the procedural law, specifically Section 61 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1898 “No police officer shall detain in custody a person arrested without a warrant for a longer period than under all circumstances of the case is reasonable, and such period shall not, in the absence of a special order of a magistrate under Section 167, exceed 24 hours exclusive of the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Magistrate’s Court.” . The procedural law stated that a person arrested not be detained more than 24 hours but Mr.Qudoos was illegally detained for 35 days.

Torture is not criminalized in Pakistan. In absence of the anti torture law and loop hole in the substantive and procedural laws in Pakistan, law enforcement agencies are enjoying full impunity. The police are using torture as their daily method of extracting information and bribes from the accused in their custody. Several sections of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1898 including Section 46 (2- 3) need to amended and specially sections 54 & 55 extend the police powers over persons who are still to be declared as accused, by permitting arrest without warrant. Specifically in this case Master Abdul Qudoos Ahmad was arrested without warrant and tortured to death.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write the letters the giver below authorities asking them to conduct a judicial inquiry in to the illegal detention and torture to a school teacher who was from the Ahmadi sect and prosecute all the officials of the Chenab Nagar police station and DPO on the charges of torture to death and murder of an innocent teacher. Please urge them to unearth the torture cells from the police station and suspend all the police officers of the district until the completion of judicial inquiry, insure the safety and security of the family members and make sure a proper autopsy and involve the forensic experts

The AHRC writes separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteurs on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions calling for their intervention into this matter.

To support this appeal, please click here:

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear ___________,

PAKISTAN: In a hate campaign against the Ahmadis the police tortured to death an innocent school teacher

Name of victim: Mr Abdul Qudoos Ahmad, a school teacher, resident of Chenab Nagar (Rabwah), Punjab province
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Sujhat Ali, Sub Inspector of Police
2. Mr. Manazar Ali, Sub Inspector of Police
3. Mr. Khadim Hussain, Station House Officer (SHO)

All are attached to the Chenab Nagar police station, Punjab province
4. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Chenab Nagar, Punjab province
5. District Police Officer of Chenab Nagar, Punjab province

Date of incident: 30 March 2012
Place of incident: Chenab Nagar, Punjab province

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the illegal arrest, detention, custodial torture and death of Mr Abdul Qudoos Ahmad, a school teacher and the president of the Nusrat Abad chapter of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat by the Chenab Nagar police.

I am shocked to know that he was kept in the illegal captivity of police for 35 days during which time he was tortured without mercy. The victim was was hung upside down by his ankles for long periods. On other occasions he was forced to lay flat on his back while a heavy wooden roller, similar to those used to flatten cricket pitches, was rolled over his body. His captors stood on either side making sure he could not escape the torment. Such inhumane and merciless treatment led to multiple organ failure and other physical injuries. The aforementioned methods of torture are but a few examples of the torment inflicted on him in a demonstration of hatred against the Ahmadis by the law enforcers.

I have learned that Mr. Abdul Qudoos Ahmad (43), a well respected school teacher, belonging to the Ahmadiyya sect was tortured to death while in police custody in Chenab Nagar (the Ahmadi community refers to it by its old name of Rabwah), Punjab province. He was taken into custody by the police on 10 February 2012 and was kept in a private torture cell of the police until 26 March when his condition deteriorated due to the severe torture he endured. He remained in police custody for 35 days with any charges being laid against him and was not officially arrested. He was forced to confess to the murder of one, Muhammad Yousuf, a stamp-paper seller from the Nusrat Abad area who was murdered a few months earlier. During the illegal detention Mr. Qudoos was deprived from access to any the legal aid was not provided.

I am appalled that during the illegal dentition Mr. Qudoos was denied access to any legal assistance. The police officials continued the torture throughout the illegal detention and when Mr. Qudoos’ physical condition deteriorated due to the heartless and callous treatment the police forced a family member to place his signature of a piece of blank paper and take him back home. Mr. Qudoos was released on 26 March, 2012 and his family sought immediate medical attention for him. Despite the best efforts of the family and doctors he was unable to recover and on 30 March, 2012 he passed away in the hospital.

Typically, as is the custom of the police, the version filed by the police named only two subordinate officers in their report. SHO Khadim Hussain of the Chenab Nagar police registered a police case only against sub inspectors, Sujhat Ali and Manazar Ali, under sections 302, 148, 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. In this manner, impunity was assured to the real murderers including SHO Khadim Hussain and other police officials.

It is with the connivance of a provincial law minister that the Punjab provincial police have been able to hide the criminal practice of the police of keeping suspects in illegal detention for months during which time they are tortured to get confessional statements and bribes. The provincial law minister has been instrumental in sheltering the high officials of the police from involvement in these heinous crimes. These officers include the District Police Officer (DPO), the highest police officer of the district, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), under whom the police station of Chenab Nagar comes, and the officer in charge of the police station, SHO Khadim Hussain.

I am sure that the brother-in-law of the victim, Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed was very distressed when he stated that Mr. Qudoos’ was brutally tortured during interrogations, causing severe internal injuries. He accused the police that when the teacher was released the police threatened the family members to hush up the matter. According to Mr. Imtiaz Mr. Qudoos was admitted to a local hospital where he died due to excessive loss of blood.

How can the police expect anyone to believe that a man could be kept in a police station for 35 days and continuously tortured and the SHO and other high officials including the DSP of the concerned police station knew nothing about the incident. This criminal act by the district police has been covered up under guise of releasing the prisoner to hide the illegal and supra constitutional behavior of the police.

It is also incredible to learn that the Punjab government has yet not started any investigation in to the incident of arbitrary detention, torture and misuse of police power against the concerned police officers. It is a very well known fact the provincial government and particularly the provincial law minister have connections with Muslim fundamentalists groups and banned Islamic organizations who are very much against the Ahmadis and who have been involved in the killings of Ahmadis and Shias, the second largest Muslim sect.

I therefore urge you to conduct a judicial inquiry into the illegal detention and torture of a school teacher from Ahmadi sect and prosecute all the officials of the Chenab Nagar police station and DPO on the charges of torture and the murder of an innocent teacher. I also urge to unearth the torture cells from the police station and suspend all the police officers of the district until the completion of the judicial inquiry. Also please ensure the safety and security of the family members and see that a proper autopsy is conducted with the assistance of forensic experts.

Yours sincerely,

—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President’s Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9204801-9214171
Fax +92 51 9207458
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk

2. Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk or pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk

3. Mr. Rehman Malik
Minister for Interior
R Block Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9212026 +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
E-mail: ministry.interior@gmail.com or interior.complaintcell@gmail.com

4. Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: sarfraz_yousuf@yahoo.com

5. Mr. Lateef Khosa
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk

6. Mr. Justice Sh. Azmat Saeed
Chief Justice of Punjab Province
Lahore High Court
Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 42 99212951-66
Fax: +92 42 99212279
Email: webmasterlhc@lhc.gov.pk

7. Mr. Shahbaz Shareef
Chief Minister
Government of Punjab Province
Chief Minister Secretariat
5-Club Road
GOR-I, Lahore, Punnjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99205065
Email: cmcomplaintcell@cmpunjab.gov.pk

8. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)

Source: AHRC

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