Pakistan: CAT highlights issues of refoulement, enforced disappearances, and a systemic lack of anti-torture safeguards
During the 84th session of the Committee Against Torture (CAT), on Wednesday 22nd April, and Thursday 23rd April 2026, the CAT reviewed the 2nd periodic report of Pakistan under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The country's rapporteurs were Ms. Naoko Maeda and Mr. Peter Kessing.
The Pakistan delegation was led by H.E. Вarrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law & Justice of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Main issues discussed
The Committee highlighted the risk of refoulement posed by the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan 2023, which has mainly targeted Afghans. Since the plan’s implementation, there have been over 2.1 million returns to Afghanistan, of which 226,000 were deportations, according to IOM and UNCHR. The experts shared concerns over reports of coercion and police abuse in relation to the returns of Afghans.
Attention was drawn to the torture faced by human rights defenders, journalists, civil society activists, lawyers, and those opposed to the government, highlighting the 10,000 alleged victims of enforced disappearances from between 2010 to 2025. They also addressed extra-judicial killings, and other forms of reprisals, urging Pakistan to introduce protections for these groups.
The Committee urged Pakistan to amend the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention & Punishment) Act 2022 to explicitly reference severe mental and psychological torture, to align with the definition in the Convention Against Torture. They also reviewed the poor conditions and severe overcrowding in detention facilities, calling for the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture to strengthen the overall protections against torture for detainees.
The CAT’s recommendations are available here.
Follow-up recommendations:
The State party should provide information by 1st May 2027 on the implementation of recommendations regarding:
non-refoulement;
extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances;
the lack of accountability regarding allegations of torture or ill-treatment;
the situation of persons allegedly detained and imprisoned on political grounds or in retaliation for their work.
Watch here the video recordings (part one and part two) of the dialogue with the CAT.