ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: Lawyers, civil society and human rights activists called upon the government to introduce a comprehensive law against torture by state functionaries in conformity with the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) which Pakistan ratified in 2010.

They were speaking at a consultative session of the national campaign against torture organised by Democratic Commission for Human Development in collaboration with Open Society Foundation here.

The participants were informed that a survey of 3,000 prisoners in different jails showed that torture was still being used by police and prison officials.

More than 54 per cent of the prisoners surveyed complained that they were tortured during the investigation.

Over 50 per cent of them said their relatives had to bribe the police to escape torture.

Kamran Arif of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said independent investigation mechanism had to be devised to shun torture.

He said courts must order medical examination of an accused before and after arrest and remand.

Director Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights Shafiq Chaudhry presented an overall view of UNCAT in the context of world human rights movements and Pakistan`s obligations in this regard.

Mr Shafiq said the UN committee overseeing the progress on UNCAT was looking towards the client states to form their own laws.

DCHD coordinator Arshed Mehmood said state had financial and other resources whereas an individual was merely protected by a law.