Friday 26 / June / 2026
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the eradication of torture and expressed solidarity with victims globally, calling upon the international community to ensure immediate accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations.
The prime minister, in his message on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture annually observed on June 26, said that Pakistan joined the international community in reaffirming its commitment to the eradication of torture in all its forms and manifestations, and to the protection of human dignity, justice, and fundamental human rights.
He emphasized that torture, as well as all forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, was unacceptable in any civilized society, and that such abhorrent practices constituted grave violations of human rights and stood in clear contravention of international law as well as the enduring principles of Islam.
He said that guided by Islamic values that uphold the sanctity and dignity of human life, and in line with international obligations, Pakistan was resolved against torture and committed to further strengthen safeguards for the protection of all individuals.
He said that victims deserved the highest standards of medical, psychological, legal, and social support, while ensuring accountability for perpetrators remained imperative. To achieve this, Pakistan continues to strengthen the implementation of relevant laws, advance legal and institutional reforms, and reinforce national mechanisms for protection, oversight, and redress, he added.
The prime minister expressed grave concern over the systematic use of torture as a tool of state oppression by foreign occupying powers, noting that the people of Palestine continue to endure state repression, brutal torture, and degrading treatment at the hands of occupying authorities.
He urged global attention toward the plight and suffering of victims of state-sponsored terrorism and repression, pointing out that decades of serious and persistent human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, custodial torture, enforced disappearances, and collective punishment, have been documented by numerous credible international reports and United Nations human rights mechanisms.
Prime Minister Shehbaz called upon the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to ensure accountability for the perpetrators of the said human rights violations.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the victims of torture, he reiterated the country’s continued political, diplomatic, and moral support for their struggle against foreign occupation and strongly supported their right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
