Rights Body Condemns Pakistan for Using Force Against Imran Khan Supporters
Rights body says water cannons against peaceful protesters violate international law
Islamabad, Dec 19: Amnesty International on Wednesday strongly criticised Pakistani authorities for repeatedly using high pressure water cannons against peaceful protesters gathered outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, calling it a flagrant violation of the right to peaceful assembly.
According to the human rights organisation, the protesters were demonstrating against the repeated denial of court ordered meetings for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently lodged in Adiala Jail.
Amnesty said that on Tuesday night, a peaceful sit-in outside the jail was once again dispersed using water cannons in freezing temperatures, with protesters alleging that the water contained chemical irritants. The organisation noted that international human rights standards allow the use of water cannons only in situations involving serious public disorder and widespread violence.
Condemning the incident, Amnesty International urged Pakistani authorities to respect the right to peaceful protest and immediately end what it described as disproportionate and punitive use of force.
“These actions raise serious concerns regarding the safety of peaceful protesters and the authorities’ compliance with court orders,” Amnesty said in a statement. It also referred to recent remarks by the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, who criticised Imran Khan’s prolonged solitary confinement of up to 23 hours a day under poor conditions, describing it as unlawful and amounting to psychological torture under international standards.
The rights body further stated that the denial of visits by family members and legal counsel violates Pakistan’s obligations under international human rights conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as basic due process safeguards. Citing the UN’s Nelson Mandela Rules, Amnesty said restrictions on family contact must not be used as a disciplinary or punitive measure.
Amnesty International called on Pakistani authorities to immediately restore Imran Khan’s access to family and legal counsel in line with international human rights law and to ensure that his conditions of detention fully comply with global standards.
Last week, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, urged Pakistan to take immediate and effective action to address concerns over what she described as “inhumane and undignified” detention conditions faced by Imran Khan, warning that they could amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
