Ten years ago, Pakistan celebrated the return to civilian rule by ratifying the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). Yet one decade of uninterrupted democracy later and the state has yet to sign the Optional Protocol. The latter seeks to put in place a series of monitoring procedures and mechanisms. This is simply not good enough. Especially considering that the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) this week dealt a crucial blow to the country when it announced the lack of data as well as absence of the aforementioned mechanisms; including those pertaining to redress. Pakistan has also failed to draw up comprehensive national legislation against torture. Admittedly, there have been some gains. Such as the appointment of human rights officers to police stations as a safeguard against torture. Or the provision psychologists by prison departments to victims of torture. The NCHR, for its part, has focused primarily on the question of police torture. Indeed, it notes that it disposed of 29 such cases in the last year; while taking up 58 cases suo motu. In 34 instances, the victims were women. Added to this is the fact that nearly 25 officers of the Islamabad police have been dismissed over links to custodial torture. Though the NCHR does not clarify whether punitive action went beyond mere dismissal. Yet torture does not occur exclusively at police hands. This is something to which all too many journalists and civil society activists can bear testament. Sadly. Civilian set-ups are understandably preoccupied with balancing as best they can the civil-military relationship; to ensure, ostensibly, that assemblies, if not premiers, complete tenures. And while this is all well and good — it is not enough. For the priority of those elected by popular mandate must be the well-being of the citizenry. Yet what we have here in modern day Pakistan is an uncomfortable truth. Namely, that two terms of civilian rule are a substantial amount of time to have squandered the chance to build and strengthen state institutions. Particularly given that this represents an investment in the country’s future. After all, a robust criminal justice system, along with a free media, is a well-recognised democratic benchmark. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has placed responsibility on civil society’s shoulders for renegotiating the social contract on the prohibition of torture in all its forms. While we recognise the important part played by journalists and human rights defenders — nothing will be achieved unless and until civilian regimes learn to look beyond their own stay in power. That being said, we hope that tangible progress will have been made by this time next year. When Pakistan once more observes the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. * Published in Daily Times, June 28th 2018.