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The United Nations Information Centre and DPI-associated NGO SACH organised a seminar at the National Library Auditorium on 25 June 2004 under the theme of “Ratification of the UN Convention against Torture in Pakistan” to commemorate this Day. The Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control was the chief guest.
The session started at 10:30 with the opening remarks and the Secretary-General’s message read by the UNIC Director, followed by the presentation of work in the field of prevention of torture by SACH. In his keynote speech, the Interior Minister explained about the Government efforts to fight against the exercise of torture in the society.
The four speakers who made presentations were Barrister Zafarullah Khan on pros and cons of ratifying the Convention against Torture, Member of the Parliamentarian Human Rights Commission Kashmala Tariq on the current situation of human rights abuses in the country, Mr Shafqat Abbasi, Advocate Supreme Court on compensatory laws, and Dr Rizwan Taj, head of the Psychiatry Department of the Pakistani Institute of Medical Sciences on types of tortures and management for cure from traumatism.
The session was concluded by Justice Majda Rizvi, chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women, after whose speech the vote of thanks was pronounced by the Executive Director of SACH.
About 250 people attended the session including Members of Parliament, Government officials, lawyers, NGO representative, students of law schools and the media.