15 March 2021 Lahore: The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and Justice Project Pakistan released a joint report titled “Criminalising Torture in Pakistan: The need for an effective legal framework.” Published a day after a teenager was reported to have died in police custody in Peshawar, the report sheds light on the lack of appropriate legislation against torture in Pakistan. “Torture by police is rampant in Pakistan », said former senator and Pakistan Peoples Party senior leader Farhatullah Babar at the online panel discussion organized for the launch of the report. “Nothing can be accepted as a defence for this crime.” As a party to international treaties, Pakistan has an obligation to criminalize torture. However, attempts to do so have historically failed. A bill tabled by Senator Sherry Rehman is currently pending in the Senate. If passed, it would make torture by law enforcement agencies a crime for the first time in Pakistan. But first, it needs to be approved by both the Senate and National Assembly.