Tag Archives: Confession

Human Rights Series: Torturing For Evidence

Article 14 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 protects the persons accused of any crime from torture and other inhuman practices. It states that:

No person shall be subjected to torture for the purpose of extracting evidence.

Article 14(2)

The police, rangers, NAB, FIA, and all other organizations are prohibited from beating up any person who may be involved in a crime. If they suspect that a person has committed a crime, they can collect evidence by visiting the place of offence or taking statements of witnesses. They can do every legal thing for investigation but they can not torture the accused.

This is the continuation of the basic human rights to dignity and privacy of home, which are also guaranteed by the same Article 14. More details have been provided in the previous article.

The readers should remember this rule: The police cannot, by law, force you to confess a crime. Even if they do and they make you sign a confession, it has no value in the eye of law. Because a confession can only be made to a judge. If you are tortured and forced to make a confession, you can tell the judge about it and then you will not be punished based on that confession.