ÿWPC ÕV" kR#>Úî8vYñ£æz"Q{Sßf—±¶gF]q‚2öüIÇ+3ÿã¢OP„_u¿'Êÿ¹ŠìDH¾Á-³5²“D‹“.U) Ÿö£#¬2^V}Ï?:µ‚Yë!Ö˾M¿²xwÆÊz¹ (Q>~ݤ ;†MÀžÃZ8D¬#àËpðh"È ó¶œ'¼î &¿ ¢9‘`_#$ðµêp ˜]ˆIê µ­oe%­ÙÈÆ›^…ëÒˆõG ½-dª¸L蕇7"™Ûe(2· ½%µåš§%"yï²É2 þÏbTØl30 nvTU¤ δ;¦ÛÖ<è±­YÖ“°ø“ŽbÑk3ÑgWÌs¡¶gØO;…}:$mÐó’M)„V{˜èçÙ?¹Ä­9±Í¬n(ËÎ'cÌýóØ£dÛGÖà:bðC•d=ÿ¯t&˜C:µ¦›¬à %•ØÄÉ«F,t»ò]gßxåÒ3”€lC”ŽþM¤ë!à°TW±ß(l]LÙ=çMu0)xV Îð!éåb„X÷™•ÕÁ…•Ï1è ÿˆ6|Ä=!¦ÿ6¾åŽ:æ_)·þЕ±w"¨jvë!ÁU>l̪ 0µv 0<+ 0Yg 0_À 0iƈ 0ÑN 0( D+G AMr ¿ 0¶Ï #Á… UNF %” Mš (ž NÆ ^ È wÔ 4Ø ì mî ô\  `‹&Times New Roman' Tahir Hussain Khan v. Canada, Committee against Torture, Communication No. 15/1994, U.N. D4n No. 15/1994, U.N. D"Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   6F , ÿÿ4Heading 3Ô S ÔÓ p^SÓÔ€£££Ôò òÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔó óÓ p^SÓ<ÿÿ:Default Para6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(©2~C$££Ý ƒóO!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X;OXXXÔÔ€X;OXXX;OÔÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$’’'dxd A<< cÿÿ#|x(ŽóO$¡¡ÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X=³XXXÔÔ€X=³XXX=³Ô˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularXë|ô* Äpì*rtyBarÀ³ž ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒóO!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X;OXXXÔÔ€X;OXXX;OÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòKhan€v.€CanadaóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No.€15/1994Ð H˜ ÐÌ15€November€1994Ð  d ÐÌCAT/C/13/D/15/1994Ð à 0 ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ ’â  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Ô_ÔTahirÔ_Ô€Hussain€Khan€[represented€by€counsel]€Ð D”  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€author€Ð ` ÐÌòòState€party€concernedóó:€Canada€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€4€July€1994€óóÐ ¨ø ÐÌÌÓ  ÓòòThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ Zª ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð @ ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€15€November€1994,€Ð  \ ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€15/1994,€submitted€to€theÐ Ø( ÐCommittee€against€Torture€by€Mr.€Ô_ÔTahirÔ_Ô€Hussain€Khan€under€article€22€of€the€ConventionÐ ¾ Ðagainst€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Ð ¤ô ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ p!À  Ðcommunication,€his€counsel€and€the€State€party,Ð V"¦! ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Ð "$r# ÐÌÌÓßÓòòò òÓ  ÓViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóóÐ Ô&$"& ÐÓ=ÓÓÓÌÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication,€dated€4€July€1994,€is€Mr.€Ô_ÔTahirÔ_Ô€Hussain€Khan,€ofÐ †)Ö$) ÐKashmiri€origin,€citizen€of€Pakistan,€currently€residing€in€Montreal,€Canada.€He€claims€toÐ l*¼%* Ðbe€a€victim€of€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,Ð R+¢&+ ÐInhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment€by€Canada.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- ÐòòThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€authoróó:Ð ° ÐÌ2.1€The€author,€who€was€born€on€14€August€1963€in€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô,€left€Pakistan€on€1Ð |Ì ÐJuly€1990,€out€of€fear€for€his€personal€security.€He€arrived€in€Canada€on€15€August€1990€andÐ b² Ðrequested€a€residence€permit€on€the€grounds€that€he€was€a€refugee.€The€Immigration€andÐ H˜ ÐRefugee€Board€of€Canada€heard€the€author€on€14€January€1992€and€concluded€that€the€authorÐ . ~ Ðwas€not€a€refugee€within€the€meaning€of€the€Refugee€Convention.€The€author's€subsequentÐ  d Ðmotion€for€leave€for€judicial€review€was€refused€on€17€April€1992€by€a€judge€of€the€FederalÐ ú J ÐCourt.€No€further€effective€judicial€recourse€is€said€to€exist.Ð à 0 ÐÌ2.2€The€author's€request€to€be€allowed€to€stay€in€Canada€for€humanitarian€reasons€wasÐ ¬ ü  Ðrefused€by€the€immigration€authorities€on€10€May€1994.€The€author's€removal€to€PakistanÐ ’â  Ðwas€ordered€to€be€effectuated€on€17€July€1994.Ð xÈ  ÐÌ3.1€The€author,€who€is€a€professional€cricket€player,€is€an€active€member€of€the€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_ÔÐ D”  ÐStudent€Federation€and€supports€the€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€movement€to€join€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô.€The€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_ÔÐ *z  ÐStudent€Federation€is€associated€with€the€Jammu€and€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô€Liberation€Front.€AccordingÐ ` Ðto€the€author,€the€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€area€is€historically€part€of€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô€but€currently€claimed€byÐ öF ÐPakistan€as€part€of€Pakistan.€He€claims€that€Pakistan€has€denied€the€inhabitants€of€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_ÔÐ Ü, Ðtheir€full€political€rights€and€that€the€area€is€completely€militarized.€The€Pakistani€authoritiesÐ Â Ðviolently€repress€the€movement€for€civil€rights€and€independence€and€individual€activists€areÐ ¨ø Ðpersecuted.€In€this€context,€the€author€states€that€a€friend€and€co„activist€was€assassinated€inÐ ŽÞ ÐAugust€1992.Ð tÄ ÐÌ3.2€The€author€submits€that€he€fears€persecution€from€Islamic€fundamentalists,€the€PakistanÐ @ ÐInter„Service€Intelligence€(Ô_ÔISIÔ_Ô)€and€the€Government€of€Pakistan€because€of€his€membershipÐ &v Ðin€the€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€Student€Federation€(Ô_ÔBSFÔ_Ô).€He€states€that€he€was€a€local€leader€and€organizerÐ  \ Ðfor€the€Ô_ÔBSFÔ_Ô€in€Rawalpindi,€and€that€he€organized€many€demonstrations€to€publicize€the€goalsÐ òB Ðof€his€organization.€He€claims€that€he€was€arrested€on€several€occasions€and€accused€of€beingÐ Ø( Ðan€Indian€agent.€In€1987,€he€was€arrested€by€the€Ô_ÔISIÔ_Ô€at€the€offices€of€the€Ô_ÔBSFÔ_Ô€in€Ô_ÔSkurduÔ_Ô,Ð ¾ Ðtogether€with€four€other€Ô_ÔBSFÔ_Ô€leaders.€They€were€taken€to€the€police€station€in€Ô_ÔSkurduÔ_Ô€andÐ ¤ô Ðkept€in€a€special€Ô_ÔISIÔ_Ô€section.€The€author€alleges€that€he€and€those€arrested€with€him€wereÐ Š Ú Ðhung€from€the€ceiling€by€their€hands€with€rope€and€badly€beaten.€After€a€week€ofÐ p!À  Ðmaltreatment€(cold€showers,€sleep€deprivation,€being€placed€on€ice„blocks),€the€author€wasÐ V"¦! Ðreleased€on€bail.Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ3.3€On€another€occasion,€in€April€1990,€the€author,€together€with€others,€was€arrested€afterÐ %X $ Ðleading€a€demonstration€for€the€Ô_ÔBSFÔ_Ô€in€Karachi.€He€was€taken€to€jail€in€Hyderabad,€whereÐ î%>!% Ðhe€was€beaten€and€subjected€to€electric€shocks.€He€also€alleges€that€he€was€cut€on€his€backÐ Ô&$"& Ðand€that€chemicals€were€applied€to€the€cuts,€which€caused€him€severe€pain.€After€two€weeks,Ð º' #' Ðhe€was€released€on€bail€and€told€to€appear€before€the€Court€on€7€July€1990.Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ3.4€A€letter,€dated€27€July€1994,€from€a€medical€doctor€at€the€ò òÔ_ÔHð=ðpitalÔ_Ô€Saint„Lucó ó€in€MontrealÐ l*¼%* Ðaffirms€that€the€author€has€marks€and€scars€on€his€body€which€correspond€with€the€allegedÐ R+¢&+ Ðtorture.Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- ÐòòThe€complaintóó:Ð ° ÐÌ4.1€The€author€claims€that€the€Canadian€authorities€did€not€address€the€central€facts€of€hisÐ |Ì Ðcase€in€the€decision€not€to€recognize€him€as€a€refugee€and€that€his€claim€was€not€justly€dealtÐ b² Ðwith.Ð H˜ ÐÌ4.2€The€author,€who€is€now€in€charge€of€the€BSF€overseas,€claims€that€he€cannot€return€toÐ  d ÐPakistan,€because€he€risks€persecution€and€attacks€on€his€life.€He€claims€that€he€will€beÐ ú J Ðimmediately€arrested€at€the€airport,€be€detained€and€tortured.€In€this€context,€the€author€refersÐ à 0 Ðto€reports€by€Amnesty€International€and€Asia€Watch€and€claims€that€evidence€exists€ofÐ Æ   Ðsystematic€torture€by€Pakistani€authorities.€He€attaches€a€supporting€affidavit€by€a€KashmirÐ ¬ ü  Ðhuman€rights€lawyer,€who€testifies€that€demonstrations€organized€by€the€Baltistan€StudentÐ ’â  ÐFederation€have€been€repressed€by€Pakistani€authorities€and€that€its€leaders€are€at€risk€ofÐ xÈ  Ðbeing€arrested€or€killed.€He€also€attaches€a€copy€of€a€letter,€dated€15€August€1994,€from€theÐ ^®  ÐBaltistan€Student€Federation,€in€which€the€author€is€advised€to€remain€in€Canada,€since€theÐ D”  Ðcircumstances€under€which€an€arrest€warrant€was€issued€against€him€are€still€prevailing.Ð *z  ÐÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóó:Ð öF ÐÌ5.€On€15€July€1994,€the€communication€was€transmitted€to€the€State€party,€with€a€request€thatÐ Â Ðthe€author€should€not€be€expelled€before€the€Committee€would€have€communicated€itsÐ ¨ø Ðdecision€under€rule€108€of€the€rules€of€procedure.€In€reply,€the€State€party,€by€submission€ofÐ ŽÞ Ð2€September€1994,€requested€the€Committee€to€examine€the€communication€on€the€meritsÐ tÄ Ðduring€its€next€session€in€November€1994.€For€this€purpose,€the€State€party€agreed€not€toÐ Zª Ðcontest€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.Ð @ ÐÌòòState€party's€observationsóó:Ð  \ ÐÌ6.1€In€its€submission,€dated€3€October€1994,€the€State€party€states€that€a€post„claim€risk„Ð Ø( Ðassessment,€conducted€in€September€1994,€resulted€in€the€conclusion€that€Mr.€Khan€wouldÐ ¾ Ðnot€face€a€danger€to€life,€extreme€sanction€or€inhumane€treatment,€should€he€be€returned€toÐ ¤ô ÐPakistan.€In€the€light€of€this€finding€and€in€the€light€of€the€need€to€process€a€large€numberÐ Š Ú Ðof€refugee€claims€in€Canada€in€a€timely€fashion,€the€State€party€requests€the€Committee€toÐ p!À  Ðexamine€the€merits€of€the€communication€at€its€thirteenth€session.€It€confines€its€observationsÐ V"¦! Ðto€the€merits€of€the€communication€only.Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ6.2€The€State€party€begins€by€explaining€the€refugee€determination€process€in€Canada,€asÐ %X $ Ðapplied€to€Mr.€Khan,€prior€to€amendments€made€in€February€1993.€The€refugeeÐ î%>!% Ðdetermination€process€was€composed€of€two€separate€oral€hearings,€both€of€which€were€heldÐ Ô&$"& Ðbefore€independent,€quasi„judicial€administrative€tribunals.€In€both€these€hearings,€claimantsÐ º' #' Ðhad€the€right€to€be€represented€by€counsel€of€their€choice,€and€were€afforded€the€opportunityÐ  (ð#( Ðto€present€evidence,€cross„examine€witnesses€and€make€representations.€If€either€memberÐ †)Ö$) Ðof€a€two„member€panel€which€conducted€the€initial€hearing€determined€that€there€was€someÐ l*¼%* Ðpossible€basis€for€success€in€the€claim€for€refugee€status,€the€claim€proceeded€to€a€secondÐ R+¢&+ Ðoral€hearing€before€the€Refugee€Division€of€the€Immigration€and€Refugee€Board.€At€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðsecond€oral€hearing,€two€members€of€the€Refugee€Division€examined€whether€the€claimantÐ -n(- Ðmet€the€definition€of€"Convention€refugee".€The€claim€would€succeed,€if€either€member€ofÐ ° Ðthe€panel€was€satisfied€that€this€was€the€case.€Leave€to€appeal€a€negative€decision€before€theÐ –æ ÐFederal€Court€of€Appeal€could€be€asked€and€was€granted€if€the€claimant€could€show€thatÐ |Ì Ðthere€was€a€"fairly€arguable€case"€or€a€"serious€question€to€be€determined".€If€leave€wasÐ b² Ðgranted€and€the€Court€rendered€a€negative€decision,€leave€could€be€sought€to€challenge€thisÐ H˜ Ðdecision€before€the€Supreme€Court€of€Canada.Ð . ~ ÐÌ6.3€The€State€party€submits€that€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€Refugees€hasÐ ú J Ðpraised€Canada's€refugee€protection€system€as€being€"among€the€very€best€in€the€world".Ð à 0 ÐÌ6.4€The€State€party€states€that€outside€the€framework€of€the€refugee€claim€process,€theÐ ¬ ü  ÐImmigration€Act€allows€to€determine€whether€circumstances€exist€which€warrant€theÐ ’â  Ðgranting€of€permanent€resident€status€to€individuals€for€humanitarian€and€compassionateÐ xÈ  Ðreasons.€All€failed€refugee€claims€before€February€1993€were€automatically€considered€forÐ ^®  Ðthis€purpose.€Guidelines€have€been€developed€to€assist€immigration€officers€in€making€thisÐ D”  Ðdetermination.€The€guidelines€include€an€assessment€of€the€risk€to€a€person€who€may€not€beÐ *z  Ða€"Convention€refugee",€but€may€none€the€less€face€maltreatment€abroad.Ð ` ÐÌ6.5€After€the€amendments€to€the€Immigration€Act,€which€came€into€force€on€1€FebruaryÐ Ü, Ð1993,€the€Act€provides€for€a€post„claim€risk„assessment€for€those€individuals€who€are€foundÐ Â Ðnot€to€be€Convention€refugees€but€face€a€risk€of€serious€harm€should€they€be€returned€to€theirÐ ¨ø Ðcountry€of€origin.€A€person€is€allowed€to€stay€in€Canada€if€he,€upon€removal,€would€beÐ ŽÞ Ðsubjected€to€an€objectively€identifiable€risk€to€his€life,€of€extreme€sanctions,€or€of€inhumaneÐ tÄ Ðtreatment.€In€the€risk„assessment€process€claimants€have€an€opportunity€to€make€writtenÐ Zª Ðsubmissions€on€the€risks€they€would€face€if€removed€from€Canada.€A€post„claimÐ @ Ðdetermination€officer€reviews€also€other€relevant€material,€such€as€the€claimant'sÐ &v Ðimmigration€file,€material€from€the€Refugee€Division€hearing€and€country€specificÐ  \ Ðinformation.€If€a€post„claim€determination€officer€comes€to€the€conclusion€that€removal€fromÐ òB ÐCanada€would€subject€a€person€to€the€risk€identified€above,€he€is€allowed€to€apply€forÐ Ø( Ðpermanent€residency.€A€negative€decision€is€subject€to€judicial€review€proceedings,€withÐ ¾ Ðleave,€before€the€Federal€Court€Trial€Division,€and€from€there€to€the€Federal€Court€of€AppealÐ ¤ô Ðand€the€Supreme€Court€of€Canada.Ð Š Ú ÐÌ6.6€After€two€non„governmental€experts€had€prepared€a€study,€in€April€1994,€in€whichÐ V"¦! Ðconcerns€were€expressed€about€the€post„claim€risk„assessment€process€(in€particular€withÐ <#Œ" Ðregard€to€the€low€acceptance€rate),€the€Minister€of€Citizenship€and€Immigration€announcedÐ "$r# Ðspecific€interim€measures.€Instructions€were€issued€with€regard€to€a€broader€application€ofÐ %X $ Ðthe€regulatory€criteria.€It€was€under€these€criteria€and€instructions€that€Mr.€Khan's€case€wasÐ î%>!% Ðrecently€reviewed.Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ7.1€As€to€Mr.€Khan's€case,€the€State€party€states€that€he€was€first€interviewed€by€immigrationÐ  (ð#( Ðofficials€on€9€August€1990.€He€declared€that€he€had€entered€Canada€illegally€from€the€UnitedÐ †)Ö$) ÐStates,€and€that€he€had€left€Pakistan€on€1€July€1990.€On€18€September€1990,€the€authorÐ l*¼%* Ðsigned€a€Statutory€Declaration€in€which€he€claimed€political€refuge.€An€interpreter€wasÐ R+¢&+ Ðpresent€at€that€occasion.€He€informed€the€immigration€officer€about€his€political€activitiesÐ 8,ˆ', Ðand€stated€that€he€had€received€several€threats.€The€author€was€then€referred€to€anÐ -n(- Ðimmigration€inquiry€to€determine€his€status€in€Canada.Ð ° ÐÌ7.2€At€the€inquiry,€the€author€made€his€claim€for€refugee€status€under€the€procedures€set€outÐ |Ì Ðin€the€Immigration€Act.€On€that€occasion,€he€described€his€political€activity€and€alleged€twoÐ b² Ðinstances€of€detention,€one€in€November€1987€and€the€second€in€March€1990.€After€a€hearingÐ H˜ Ðon€24€May€1991,€the€author's€claim€was€found€to€have€a€credible€basis€and€thus€referred€toÐ . ~ Ðthe€Refugee€Division€for€a€full€oral€hearing.€At€the€hearing,€on€29€August€1991,€the€authorÐ  d Ðwas€represented€by€a€lawyer;€interpretation€was€provided.€The€State€party€submits€that€theÐ ú J Ðinformation€provided€by€the€author€at€the€hearing€was€inconsistent€with€that€provided€by€himÐ à 0 Ðearlier.€Furthermore,€the€oral€testimony€is€said€to€have€been€internally€inconsistent.€AlthoughÐ Æ   Ðnumerous€opportunities€were€given€to€the€author€to€clarify€these€inconsistencies,€the€StateÐ ¬ ü  Ðparty€submits€that€the€testimony€remained€self„contradictory.€Consequently,€in€its€decision,Ð ’â  Ðdated€14€January€1992,€the€Refugee€Division€determined€that€the€author€was€not€a€refugeeÐ xÈ  Ðand€that€his€oral€testimony€had€been€fabricated.€The€author's€leave€to€appeal€was€dismissedÐ ^®  Ðby€the€Federal€Court€of€Appeal€on€22€April€1992.Ð D”  ÐÌ7.3€The€State€party€emphasizes€that€in€no€instance€during€the€proceedings€in€determinationÐ ` Ðof€his€refugee€claim,€the€author€or€his€counsel€alleged€ill€treatment€or€torture€during€theÐ öF Ðclaimed€periods€of€detention,€nor€did€they€allude€to€future€fear€of€torture.Ð Ü, ÐÌ7.4€After€the€author's€leave€to€appeal€had€been€dismissed,€he€was€informed€that€he€shouldÐ ¨ø Ðleave€Canada€on€or€before€23€May€1992.€The€author€failed€to€do€so.€After€the€author€failedÐ ŽÞ Ðto€report€to€the€immigration€office€on€16€September€1992,€as€requested,€a€warrant€for€hisÐ tÄ Ðarrest€was€issued.€The€author€was€arrested€on€21€September€1992,€and€on€23€SeptemberÐ Zª Ð1992,€a€deportation€order€was€issued€against€him.€He€remained€in€detention€until€theÐ @ Ðscheduled€day€of€his€removal,€8€October€1992.€On€that€date,€his€scheduled€removal€wasÐ &v Ðdelayed€because€of€his€violent€and€aggressive€Ô_ÔbehaviourÔ_Ô,€which€made€it€inappropriate€toÐ  \ Ðproceed€with€the€removal€without€escort€officers.Ð òB ÐÌ7.5€On€27€October€1992,€the€author's€presence€was€required€at€a€preliminary€hearing€inÐ ¾ Ðrespect€of€charges€of€assault€against€him,€following€a€fight€in€a€bar€in€March€1992.€UnderÐ ¤ô Ðparagraph€50(1)(a)€of€the€Immigration€Act,€the€author€could€not€be€removed€from€CanadaÐ Š Ú Ðuntil€after€these€charges€were€resolved.€On€29€October€1992,€the€author€was€released€fromÐ p!À  Ðdetention,€awaiting€the€outcome€of€the€trial€against€him,€which€was€scheduled€for€25Ð V"¦! ÐFebruary€1993.Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ7.6€On€30€December€1992,€counsel€for€the€author€requested€the€exceptional€granting€ofÐ %X $ Ðresident€status€on€humanitarian€and€compassionate€grounds.€The€State€party€emphasizes€thatÐ î%>!% Ðthis€request€was€mainly€based€on€his€community€involvement€in€Quebec€and€on€the€unstableÐ Ô&$"& Ðsituation€in€Pakistan,€and€that€no€materials€were€filed€demonstrating€a€personal€risk€for€theÐ º' #' Ðauthor€of€torture€or€maltreatment,€if€he€were€to€be€returned€to€Pakistan.€On€29€January€1993,Ð  (ð#( Ðthe€application€was€refused.Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ7.7€On€25€February€1994,€the€author€was€convicted€of€assault€causing€bodily€harm€andÐ R+¢&+ Ðsentenced€to€one€year€probation€and€a€$90€fine.€Consequently,€his€departure€from€CanadaÐ 8,ˆ', Ðwas€scheduled€for€17€March€1994.€On€15€March€1994,€the€author€was€arrested€whileÐ -n(- Ðattempting€to€enter€the€United€States€illegally€and€contrary€to€the€conditions€imposed€uponÐ ° Ðhim€after€his€release€from€detention.€On€16€March€1994,€he€was€ordered€detained€forÐ –æ Ðremoval€purposes.€According€to€the€State€party,€the€author€threatened€Immigration€officers,Ð |Ì Ðsaying€that€he€could€not€be€held€responsible€for€what€might€happen€to€escort€officers€whoÐ b² Ðwould€take€him€back€to€Pakistan.€His€removal€was€delayed€and€the€author€remained€inÐ H˜ Ðdetention.Ð . ~ ÐÌ7.8€On€15€April€1994,€counsel€for€the€author€made€another€humanitarian€and€compassionateÐ ú J Ðapplication.€This€application€was€refused€on€10€May€1994.€The€State€party€submits€that€theÐ à 0 Ðauthor€could€have€applied€to€the€Federal€Court€if€he€felt€that€the€review€had€been€unfair,€butÐ Æ   Ðhe€failed€to€do€so.€Instead,€counsel€made€additional€humanitarian€and€compassionate€reviewÐ ¬ ü  Ðsubmissions,€without€however€submitting€the€requisite€processing€fee.€As€a€result,€theÐ ’â  Ðapplication€was€not€considered.€The€State€party€states€that€in€the€materials€submitted€byÐ xÈ  Ðcounsel,€no€reference€was€made€to€the€author€having€been€previously€ill€treated€in€Pakistan.Ð ^®  ÐÌ7.9€On€15€June€1994,€counsel€brought€an€application€before€the€Refugee€Division€forÐ *z  Ðreconsideration€of€the€author's€refugee€claim.€On€18€June€1994,€the€application€was€denied.Ð ` ÐNo€attempt€was€made€by€counsel€or€the€author€to€challenge€this€decision.Ð öF ÐÌ7.10€On€4€July€1994,€the€author€was€released€from€detention.€The€State€party€submits€thatÐ Â Ðit€had€been€agreed€that€the€author€would€get€the€opportunity€to€arrange€his€voluntaryÐ ¨ø Ðdeparture€to€a€country€other€than€Pakistan.€It€was€agreed€that€he€would€leave€CanadaÐ ŽÞ Ðvoluntarily€by€15€July€1994,€and€that,€failing€that,€removal€to€Pakistan€would€proceed€on€17Ð tÄ ÐJuly€1994.Ð Zª ÐÌ7.11€After€having€been€informed€that€the€author€had€submitted€a€communication€to€theÐ &v ÐCommittee€against€Torture,€the€State€party€arranged€for€a€review€of€the€author's€case€by€aÐ  \ Ðpost„claim€determination€officer.€It€is€submitted€that€the€post„claim€determination€officerÐ òB Ðevaluated€the€materials€filed€by€the€author's€counsel€(including€the€materials€submitted€toÐ Ø( Ðthe€Committee),€the€author's€Personal€Information€Form,€the€decision€of€the€RefugeeÐ ¾ ÐDivision€as€well€as€other€materials€obtained€from€the€Documentation€Ô_ÔCentreÔ_Ô€of€theÐ ¤ô ÐImmigration€and€Refugee€Board€(including€reports€from€Amnesty€International,€Asia€WatchÐ Š Ú Ðand€newspaper€clippings€on€the€situation€of€the€Northern€Territories€in€Pakistan).€The€officerÐ p!À  Ðalso€relied€on€research€done€by€the€staff€of€the€Documentation€Ô_ÔCentreÔ_Ô.€On€19€SeptemberÐ V"¦! Ð1994,€the€author€was€informed€that€a€negative€decision€had€been€reached.€The€officerÐ <#Œ" Ðconcluded€that€the€author€was€one€of€thousands€of€residents€in€Northern€Pakistan€whoÐ "$r# Ðadvocate€a€change€in€the€status€of€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô,€that€the€Government€of€Pakistan€had€supportedÐ %X $ Ðsecessionist€groups€and€that€therefore€no€reasons€existed€why€the€Pakistani€authorities€wouldÐ î%>!% Ðbe€interested€in€the€author.€Moreover,€the€officer€doubted€the€credibility€of€the€author's€story,Ð Ô&$"& Ðsince€he€commenced€his€refugee€claim€in€1990,€but€did€not€allege€torture€until€1994.Ð º' #' ÐÌ8.1€The€State€party€refers€to€the€Committee's€Views€in€respect€of€communication€No.Ð †)Ö$) Ð13/1993€(Ô_ÔMutomboÔ_Ô€v.€Switzerland),€and€submits€that,€in€determining€whether€article€3€of€theÐ l*¼%* ÐConvention€against€Torture€applies,€the€following€considerations€are€relevant:€(a)€the€generalÐ R+¢&+ Ðsituation€of€human€rights€in€a€country€must€be€taken€into€account,€but€the€existence€of€aÐ 8,ˆ', Ðconsistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€is€not€in€and€of€itselfÐ -n(- Ðdeterminative;€(b)€the€individual€concerned€must€be€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€toÐ ° Ðtorture€in€the€country€to€which€he€would€return;€and€(c)€"substantial€grounds"€in€article€3(1)Ð –æ Ðmeans€that€the€risk€of€the€individual€being€tortured€if€returned€is€a€"foreseeable€andÐ |Ì Ðnecessary€consequence".€The€State€party€submits€that€it€examined€each€of€these€elements€andÐ b² Ðthat€it€came€to€the€conclusion€that€no€substantial€grounds€existed€for€believing€that€the€authorÐ H˜ Ðwould€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.Ð . ~ ÐÌ8.2€The€State€party€submits€that,€although€the€human€rights€situation€in€Pakistan€is€ofÐ ú J Ðconcern,€this€does€not€mean€that€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€ofÐ à 0 Ðhuman€rights€exists.€As€regards€the€northern€part€of€Pakistan,€the€materials€examined€byÐ Æ   Ðimmigration€officials€show€that€the€political€status€of€the€Northern€Territories€has€never€beenÐ ¬ ü  Ðresolved.€In€theory,€it€is€disputed€territory€and€it€has€never€been€represented€in€the€PakistanÐ ’â  ÐNational€Assembly.€In€practice,€it€is€administered€as€Pakistani€territory.€The€Jammu€andÐ xÈ  ÐÔ_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô€Liberation€Front€(Ô_ÔJKLFÔ_Ô),€to€which€the€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€Student€Federation€is€allegedlyÐ ^®  Ðassociated,€is€one€of€the€numerous€militant€organizations€that€operate€in€the€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô€regionÐ D”  Ðof€both€India€and€Pakistan,€some€of€whom€advocate€independence€while€others€advocateÐ *z  Ðaccession€to€Pakistan.€The€State€party€submits€that€Ô_ÔJKLFÔ_Ô€was€founded€in€1964€and€that€it€isÐ ` Ðresponsible€for€numerous€acts€of€terrorism,€including€summary€executions,€Ô_ÔkidnappingsÔ_Ô€andÐ öF Ðbomb€explosions.Ð Ü, ÐÌ8.3€As€to€the€question€whether€the€author€personally€faces€a€risk€of€being€subjected€to€tortureÐ ¨ø Ðif€returned€to€Pakistan,€the€State€party€submits€that€there€are€significant€inconsistencies€inÐ ŽÞ Ðthe€statements€made€by€the€author€during€the€various€proceedings.€For€instance,€the€datesÐ tÄ Ðof€arrests€and€length€of€detentions€given€by€the€author€at€several€occasions€are€at€varianceÐ Zª Ðwith€each€other,€as€are€the€reasons€given€for€his€arrest.€The€State€party€contends€that€theseÐ @ Ðinconsistencies€impact€significantly€on€the€veracity€of€the€author's€story€and€the€credibilityÐ &v Ðof€his€claims.Ð  \ ÐÌ8.4€In€this€context,€the€State€party€refers€to€the€finding€of€the€Refugee€Division,€whoseÐ Ø( Ðmembers€had€the€benefit€of€conducting€an€oral€hearing€with€the€author,€that€the€author'sÐ ¾ Ðtestimony€was€largely€fabricated.€The€State€party€submits€that€"it€is€a€widely€acknowledgedÐ ¤ô Ðprinciple€of€international€law,€recognized€in€the€practice€of€international€tribunals€(and€inÐ Š Ú Ðparticular€human€rights€treaty€bodies€which€have€authority€to€consider€individualÐ p!À  Ðcommunications)€that€the€findings€of€national€tribunals€on€matters€of€fact€and€domestic€lawÐ V"¦! Ðshould€not€be€disturbed€by€an€international€body".€It€states€that€the€Committee€shouldÐ <#Œ" Ðtherefore€be€extremely€hesitant€to€alter€findings€of€fact€by€the€Refugee€Division.Ð "$r# ÐÌ8.5€As€regards€the€medical€evidence€submitted€by€the€author,€the€State€party€emphasizes€thatÐ î%>!% Ðthis€was€not€produced€until€July€1994,€although€the€refugee€claim€dates€from€1990.€It€furtherÐ Ô&$"& Ðstates€that€the€evidence€confirms€that€the€author€has€various€scars,€but€that€there€is€noÐ º' #' Ðindication€that€these€scars€are€the€result€of€torture€or€that€they€could€have€been€caused€byÐ  (ð#( Ðother€events€in€the€author's€life,€such€as€his€sports€career.€The€State€party€states€that€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðmedical€evidence€was€considered€in€the€post„claim€risk„assessment,€but€that€the€author'sÐ l*¼%* Ðfailure€to€produce€medical€evidence€in€proceedings€before€the€Canadian€tribunals€deprivedÐ R+¢&+ Ðthem€of€the€opportunity€to€test€this€evidence.€The€State€party€argues€that€there€was€no€reasonÐ 8,ˆ', Ðwhy€the€author€could€not€have€advanced€this€evidence€in€previous€proceedings€of€competentÐ -n(- ÐÔ_Ôtribunals€and€submits€that€the€issue€was€directly€relevant€to€the€determination€made€by€theÐ ° ÐRefugee€Division.€It€is€argued€that€the€generally€applicable€principles€relating€to€theÐ –æ Ðreception€of€new€evidence€militate€strongly€against€the€Committee€accepting€it€now€as€aÐ |Ì Ðbasis€for€overriding€the€prior€findings€of€the€Canadian€tribunals.Ð b² ÐÌ8.6€The€State€party€contends€that€the€available€evidence€does€not€support€the€author's€claimÐ . ~ Ðthat€he€personally€is€sought€after€by€the€Pakistani€authorities.€The€State€party€submits€thatÐ  d Ðthe€author's€secessionist€activities€are€pursued€by€thousands€of€others€in€his€region€with€theÐ ú J Ðsupport€of€Pakistan.€It€is€moreover€argued€that€there€is€no€evidence€that€the€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€StudentÐ à 0 ÐFederation,€of€which€the€author€allegedly€is€a€leader,€is€the€target€of€Pakistani€repression.Ð Æ   ÐThe€State€party€further€points€out€that,€although€the€author€alleges€that€there€is€anÐ ¬ ü  Ðoutstanding€warrant€for€his€arrest,€he€does€not€identify€the€charge€or€actions€on€which€thatÐ ’â  Ðwarrant€is€based.€The€State€party€moreover€indicates€that€the€author's€family€continues€to€liveÐ xÈ  Ðin€Pakistan€unharmed€and€without€harassment.Ð ^®  ÐÌ8.7€In€this€context,€the€State€party€submits€that€article€3€of€the€Convention€should€not€beÐ *z  Ðinterpreted€to€offer€protection€to€persons€who€voluntarily€place€themselves€at€risk.€"In€otherÐ ` Ðwords,€Mr.€Khan€should€not€be€able€to€invoke€article€3€on€the€basis€that€he€might€againÐ öF Ðparticipate€in€the€activities€of€a€militant€organization€and€be€subject€to€the€risks€associatedÐ Ü, Ðwith€the€violent€activities€such€organizations€use€and€in€turn,€face.€[...]€The€important€pointÐ Â Ðis€that€currently€Mr.€Khan€does€not€attract€any€particular€attention€in€Pakistan€and€his€returnÐ ¨ø Ðby€Canada€would€not€pose€a€risk."Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ8.8€In€conclusion,€the€State€party€submits€that€the€evidence€presented€by€the€author€isÐ Zª Ðinsufficient€to€demonstrate€that€the€risk€of€being€tortured€is€a€"foreseeable€and€necessary"Ð @ Ðconsequence€of€his€return€to€Pakistan.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€submits€that€theÐ &v Ðsupporting€affidavit€by€a€lawyer€from€Pakistan€was€from€a€member€of€Ô_ÔJKLFÔ_Ô,€itself€a€terroristÐ  \ Ðorganization€with€a€particular€interpretation€of€the€Kashmiri€situation.€No€sufficient€evidenceÐ òB Ðhas€been€submitted€which€shows€that€the€author's€Ô_ÔBSFÔ_Ô€activities€render€him€a€target€of€theÐ Ø( ÐPakistani€authorities.€On€the€contrary,€the€documentation€available€suggests€that€the€author'sÐ ¾ Ðmilitant€activities€were€in€fact€common€in€the€north€of€Pakistan€and€supported€by€theÐ ¤ô ÐGovernment.Ð Š Ú ÐÌòòCounsel's€comments€and€State€party's€clarificationóó:Ð V"¦! ÐÌ9.1€In€his€comments,€dated€26€October€1994,€on€the€State€party's€submission,€counsel€claimsÐ "$r# Ðthat€it€is€clear€that€the€real€circumstances€of€the€author's€case€have€never€been€fairlyÐ %X $ Ðexamined€by€the€State€party.€He€refers€to€the€documentation€submitted€to€the€Committee,Ð î%>!% Ðamong€which€information€indicating€that€already€eight€activists€for€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô€independenceÐ Ô&$"& Ðhad€been€killed€by€Pakistani€supporters€and€that€a€bomb€attack€had€taken€place€against€oneÐ º' #' Ðof€the€Ô_ÔJKLFÔ_Ô€leaders,€and€claims€that€there€is€a€great€deal€of€documentary€evidence€ofÐ  (ð#( Ðrepression€against€those€who€want€independence€for€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô.€He€also€refers€to€the€earlierÐ †)Ö$) Ðsubmitted€affidavit€by€a€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô€human€rights€lawyer,€at€present€a€refugee€claimant€inÐ l*¼%* ÐCanada,€who€corroborates€the€author's€story.Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ9.2€In€particular,€counsel€submits€that€there€is€a€great€deal€of€evidence€of€systematic€tortureÐ -n(- Ðby€the€Pakistani€authorities.€He€states€that€the€Pakistan€Human€Rights€Commission's€annualÐ ° Ðreport€refers€to€the€prevalence€of€death€by€torture€and€torture€with€impunity€by€the€police.Ð –æ ÐOther€reports€support€this€finding.Ð |Ì ÐÌ9.3€Counsel€concedes€that€the€Canadian€refugee€claim€determination€system€is€good€onÐ H˜ Ðpaper,€but€argues€that€even€in€a€good€system,€mistakes€are€made.€In€this€context,€heÐ . ~ Ðemphasizes€that€the€Canadian€system€does€not€allow€for€an€appeal€on€the€merits,€but€onlyÐ  d Ðfor€an€appeal€(with€leave)€on€matters€of€law.€Because€of€this,€there€is€no€possibility€to€correctÐ ú J Ðerrors€on€facts€and€the€system€has€been€criticized€for€that.€Counsel€refers€to€a€report,€datedÐ à 0 ÐDecember€1993,€on€the€Immigration€and€Refugee€Board,€which€shows€that€serious€problemsÐ Æ   Ðexist.€He€adds€that€it€is€known€among€refugee€lawyers€that€the€problems€with€the€Board€inÐ ¬ ü  ÐMontreal€are€more€serious€than€elsewhere,€because€of€the€incompetence€of€board€members.Ð ’â  ÐHe€claims€that€it€is€clear€from€reading€the€decision€of€the€Refugee€Board€in€the€author's€caseÐ xÈ  Ðthat€the€basis€of€his€claim€has€not€been€examined.€He€claims€also€that€the€transcript€of€theÐ ^®  Ðhearing€shows€that€the€author€and€his€representative€were€constantly€interrupted€in€theirÐ D”  Ðpresentation€of€the€case,€and€that€there€was€no€examination€of€what€had€happened€to€theÐ *z  Ðauthor€in€Pakistan.€Instead,€the€members€of€the€Board€focused€on€contradictions€in€the€datesÐ ` Ðof€events.Ð öF ÐÌ9.4€Counsel€submits€that€from€early€1991€to€early€1993,€less€than€1€per€cent€of€refusedÐ Â Ðrefugees€were€given€status€in€Canada€under€the€post„claim€risk„assessment€process.€AfterÐ ¨ø Ðsevere€criticism,€the€system€was€amended€and€new€regulatory€criteria€were€established.Ð ŽÞ ÐHowever,€counsel€states€that€these€new€criteria€were€still€applied€by€the€same€deportationÐ tÄ Ðofficers€who€had€refused€everybody€before.€He€claims€that€the€recent€figures€(0.3€per€centÐ Zª Ðacceptance€rate€in€1993)€show€that€the€new€system€is€a€farce.€For€this€reason,€theÐ @ ÐGovernment€called€for€a€further€report€(see€above,€para.€6.6).€This€report€condemnedÐ &v Ðincompetence,€unwillingness€to€apply€international€human€rights€standards€and€bureaucraticÐ  \ Ðopposition€to€treating€people€fairly.€It€stated€that€post„claim€risk„assessments€should€not€beÐ òB Ðmade€by€deportation€agents,€but€by€other€officials.€It€is€stated€that€the€recommendations€ofÐ Ø( Ðthe€report€have€not€been€implemented€by€the€Government.Ð ¾ ÐÌ9.5€Counsel€claims€that€the€post„claim€decision€in€the€author's€case,€dated€10€May€1994,Ð Š Ú Ðshow€all€the€shortcomings€established€by€the€report,€since€the€grounds€in€Ô_ÔfavourÔ_Ô€of€protectingÐ p!À  Ðthe€author€were€not€examined.Ð V"¦! ÐÌ9.6€Council€claims€that€the€alleged€inconsistencies€and€contradictions€in€the€author'sÐ "$r# Ðevidence€and€submissions€are€not€such€that€they€make€his€testimony€unreliable.€He€statesÐ %X $ Ðthat€the€author€has€submitted€sufficient€evidence€to€corroborate€his€story.€As€regards€theÐ î%>!% ÐState€party's€argument€that€no€evidence€of€previous€torture€was€submitted€before€July€1994,Ð Ô&$"& Ðcounsel€points€out€that€the€author€was€in€detention€from€mid„March€to€July€1994€and€thatÐ º' #' Ðthe€medical€examination€was€conducted€immediately€after€his€release.€As€to€the€State€party'sÐ  (ð#( Ðclaim€that€the€author€was€given€the€opportunity€to€find€a€third€country,€counsel€states€thatÐ †)Ö$) Ðhe€is€not€aware€of€such€an€offer.Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ9.7€As€regards€the€review€conducted€by€the€State€party€after€July€1994,€counsel€argues€thisÐ 8,ˆ', Ðwas€not€an€independent€review.€He€states€that€the€review€was€done€by€a€low„levelÐ -n(- Ðadministrative€official€working€for€the€enforcement€side€of€Immigration€Canada.€He€furtherÐ ° Ðstates€that€there€is€no€evidence€that€this€officer€examined€the€situation€in€Ô_ÔAzadÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô€andÐ –æ Ðthe€Northern€Areas€of€Pakistan.€In€this€context,€counsel€points€out€that€he€made€submissionsÐ |Ì Ðon€15€September€1994,€and€that€the€decision€is€dated€19€September€1994.€In€the€decision,Ð b² Ðno€reference€is€made€to€the€evidence€submitted.€Counsel€argues€that€the€decision€is€basedÐ H˜ Ðon€wrong€grounds:€(a)€it€states€that€Pakistan€supports€groups€which€want€independence:Ð . ~ Ðaccording€to€counsel,€Pakistan€is€strongly€opposed€to€the€independence€movement€and€wantsÐ  d ÐÔ_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô€to€become€part€of€Pakistan;€(b)€it€states€that€the€author€has€no€profile€that€isÐ ú J Ðdifferent€from€thousands€of€other€people€in€his€area:€counsel€submits€that€there€is€evidenceÐ à 0 Ð(newspaper€pictures,€a€police€report,€a€video,€an€affidavit)€which€shows€him€to€be€a€leaderÐ Æ   Ðin€the€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€Student€Federation;€(c)€it€states€that€the€author€never€mentioned€tortureÐ ¬ ü  Ðbefore€1994:€according€to€counsel,€this€is€untrue,€since€the€author€earlier€made€reference€toÐ ’â  Ðbeing€"so€weak€that€my€family€was€scared€to€see€me",€to€Pakistan€being€governed€underÐ xÈ  Ðtorture,€and€to€having€been€beaten€in€the€police€station.Ð ^®  ÐÌ9.8€Counsel€agrees€generally€with€the€interpretation€given€by€the€State€party€to€theÐ *z  Ðapplication€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€He€contends,€however,€that€it€is€an€exaggerationÐ ` Ðto€say€that€torture€must€be€a€necessary€and€foreseeable€consequence.€He€argues€thatÐ öF Ðsubstantial€grounds€clearly€exist€to€fear€that€the€author,€who€is€a€student€leader€of€theÐ Ü, ÐKashmiri€independence€movement€and€has€been€its€representative€in€Canada,€will€beÐ Â Ðsubjected€to€torture.€Counsel€refers€to€a€report€of€Amnesty€International,€which€states€thatÐ ¨ø Ð"torture,€including€rape,€in€the€custody€of€the€police,€the€paramilitary€and€the€armed€forcesÐ ŽÞ Ðis€endemic,€widespread€and€systematic€in€Pakistan".€He€contests€the€State€party's€view€thatÐ tÄ Ðthere€is€no€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€inÐ Zª ÐPakistan,€and€submits€that€the€situation€in€the€northern€areas€is€particularly€bad.€In€thisÐ @ Ðcontext,€counsel€refers€to€testimonies€given€by€human€rights€activists€to€the€United€NationsÐ &v ÐCommission€on€Human€Rights€in€March€1994.Ð  \ ÐÌ9.9€Counsel€contests€the€State€party's€view€that€the€Ô_ÔJKLFÔ_Ô€is€a€terrorist€organization,€andÐ Ø( Ðclaims€that€there€is€no€evidence€of€use€of€violence€by€the€Ô_ÔJKLFÔ_Ô€in€Pakistan„occupiedÐ ¾ ÐÔ_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô.€He€submits€that€the€party€is€widely€recognized€to€be€the€most€popular€politicalÐ ¤ô Ðparty€in€both€Indian„€and€Pakistan„occupied€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô.€He€submits€that€the€vast€majority€ofÐ Š Ú ÐÔ_ÔKashmirisÔ_Ô€today€support€independence€for€their€country.€He€claims€that€the€PakistaniÐ p!À  Ðauthorities€are€repressing€everyone€who€advocates€independence.Ð V"¦! ÐÌ9.10€To€support€the€argument€that€the€author€will€risk€torture€upon€his€return€to€Pakistan,Ð "$r# Ðcounsel€submits€an€arrest€warrant,€dated€12€September€1990,€against€the€author,€apparentlyÐ %X $ Ðrelated€to€an€incident€on€6€June€1990,€in€which€the€author,€referred€to€in€the€accompanyingÐ î%>!% Ðpolice€report€as€"President€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€Student€Federation,€Rawalpindi",€led€a€demonstrationÐ Ô&$"& Ðin€Rawalpindi€to€demand€constitutional€rights€for€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€and€criticized€the€Government.Ð º' #' ÐHe€also€claims€that€the€author's€brother€has€fled€the€country€and€now€lives€in€England,Ð  (ð#( Ðwhereas€the€author's€parents€have€left€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€and€now€live€in€Ô_ÔAzadÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô.€CounselÐ †)Ö$) Ðfurther€refers€to€the€medical€evidence,€and€argues€that,€if€the€State€party€doubts€itsÐ l*¼%* Ðconclusions,€it€should€have€conducted€an€examination€by€its€own€experts.Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ9.11€Counsel€concludes€that€there€is€sufficient€evidence€to€show€that€the€author€is€personallyÐ -n(- Ðsought€after€by€the€Pakistani€authorities.€He€argues€that€the€author€should€not€be€sent€backÐ ° Ðto€a€country€where€his€life€is€in€danger.€He€claims€that€the€evidence€shows€that€the€authorÐ –æ Ðfaces€immediate€detention€and€torture€on€his€return.Ð |Ì ÐÌ10.€In€reaction€to€counsel's€submission,€the€State€party€argues€that€the€central€issue€beforeÐ H˜ Ðthe€Committee€is€ò ònotó ó€the€general€operation€of€Canada's€refugee€determination€system,€butÐ . ~ Ðwhether€the€author€has€established€that€he€is€personally€at€risk€of€being€subject€to€torture€inÐ  d ÐPakistan€upon€his€return.Ð ú J ÐÌòòDecision€on€admissibility€and€examination€of€the€meritsóó:Ð Æ   ÐÌ11.€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€againstÐ ’â  ÐTorture€must€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€TheÐ xÈ  ÐCommittee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5(a),€of€theÐ ^®  ÐConvention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€anotherÐ D”  Ðprocedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€StateÐ *z  Ðparty€has€not€raised€any€objections€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€and€that€it€hasÐ ` Ðrequested€the€Committee€to€proceed€to€an€examination€of€the€merits.€The€Committee€findsÐ öF Ðtherefore€that€no€obstacles€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€exist€and€proceeds€withÐ Ü, Ðthe€consideration€of€the€merits€of€the€communication.Ð Â ÐÌ12.1€The€Committee€notes€that€both€parties€have€made€considerable€submissions€with€regardÐ ŽÞ Ðto€the€fairness€of€the€refugee€claim€determination€system€and€the€post„claim€risk„assessmentÐ tÄ Ðprocedures.€The€Committee€observes€that€it€is€not€called€upon€to€review€the€prevailingÐ Zª Ðsystem€in€Canada€in€general,€but€only€to€examine€whether€in€the€ò òpresentó ó€case€CanadaÐ @ Ðcomplied€with€its€obligations€under€the€Convention.€Nor€is€the€Committee€called€upon€toÐ &v Ðdetermine€whether€the€author's€rights€under€the€Convention€have€been€violated€by€Pakistan,Ð  \ Ðwhich€is€not€a€State€party€to€the€Convention.€The€issue€before€the€Committee€is€whether€theÐ òB Ðforced€return€of€the€author€to€Pakistan€would€violate€the€obligation€of€Canada€under€articleÐ Ø( Ð3€of€the€Convention€not€to€expel€or€to€return€a€person€to€another€State€where€there€areÐ ¾ Ðsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.Ð ¤ô ÐÌ12.2€Article€3€reads:Ð p!À  ÐÌà0 4 à"1.€No€State€party€shall€expel,€return€('Ô_ÔrefoulerÔ_Ô')€or€extradite€a€person€to€another€StateÐ <#Œ" Ðwhere€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€beingÐ "$r# Ðsubjected€to€torture."Ð%X $4ü!4ü! ÐÌà0 4 à"2.€For€the€purpose€of€determining€whether€there€are€such€grounds,€the€competentÐ Ô&$"& Ðauthorities€shall€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations€including,€whereÐ º' #' Ðapplicable,€the€existence€in€the€State€concerned€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,Ð  (ð#( Ðflagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights."І)Ö$)4ü!4ü! ÐÌThe€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€paragraph€1€of€article€3,€whether€there€areÐ R+¢&+ Ðsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€Mr.€Khan€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subject€toÐ 8,ˆ', Ðtorture.€In€reaching€this€conclusion,€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€all€relevantÐ -n(- Ðconsiderations,€pursuant€to€paragraph€2€of€article€3,€including€the€existence€of€a€consistentÐ ° Ðpattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim€of€the€determination,Ð –æ Ðhowever,€is€to€establish€whether€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk€ofÐ |Ì Ðbeing€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€would€return.€It€follows€that€theÐ b² Ðexistence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€aÐ H˜ Ðcountry€does€not€as€such€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€for€determining€that€a€person€wouldÐ . ~ Ðbe€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€that€country;€additional€groundsÐ  d Ðmust€exist€that€indicate€that€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,Ð ú J Ðthe€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€thatÐ à 0 Ða€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€specificÐ Æ   Ðcircumstances.Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ12.3€The€Committee€notes€that€the€author€of€the€present€case€has€claimed€that€he€was€a€localÐ xÈ  Ðleader€of€the€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€Student€Federation,€that€he€has€twice€been€tortured€by€Pakistani€policeÐ ^®  Ðand€military,€that€he€was€scheduled€to€appear€before€a€Court€upon€charges€related€to€hisÐ D”  Ðpolitical€activities,€and€that€he€will€face€arrest€and€torture€if€he€were€to€return€to€Pakistan.€InÐ *z  Ðsupport€of€his€claim,€the€author€presented,€among€other€documentation,€a€medical€reportÐ ` Ðwhich€does€not€contradict€his€allegations.€The€Committee€notes€that€some€of€the€author'sÐ öF Ðclaims€and€corroborating€evidence€have€been€submitted€only€after€his€refugee€claim€hadÐ Ü, Ðbeen€refused€by€the€Refugee€Board€and€deportation€procedures€had€been€initiated;€theÐ Â ÐCommittee,€however,€also€notes€that€this€Ô_ÔbehaviourÔ_Ô€is€not€uncommon€for€victims€of€torture.Ð ¨ø ÐThe€Committee,€however,€considers€that,€even€if€there€could€be€some€doubts€about€the€factsÐ ŽÞ Ðas€adduced€by€the€author,€it€must€ensure€that€his€security€is€not€endangered.€The€CommitteeÐ tÄ Ðnotes€that€evidence€exists€that€torture€is€widely€Ô_ÔpractisedÔ_Ô€in€Pakistan€against€politicalÐ Zª Ðdissenters€as€well€as€against€common€detainees.Ð @ ÐÌ12.4€The€Committee€considers€therefore€that€in€the€present€case€substantial€grounds€exist€forÐ  \ Ðbelieving€that€a€political€activist€like€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÐ òB Ðtorture.€It€notes€that€the€author€has€produced€a€copy€of€an€arrest€warrant€against€him,€forÐ Ø( Ðorganizing€a€demonstration€and€for€criticizing€the€Government,€and€that€moreover€he€hasÐ ¾ Ðsubmitted€a€copy€of€a€letter€from€the€President€of€the€Ô_ÔBaltistanÔ_Ô€Student€Federation,€advisingÐ ¤ô Ðhim€that€it€would€be€dangerous€for€him€to€return€to€Pakistan.€The€Committee€further€notesÐ Š Ú Ðthat€the€author€has€adduced€evidence€that€indicates€that€supporters€of€independence€for€theÐ p!À  Ðnorthern€areas€and€Ô_ÔKashmirÔ_Ô€have€been€the€targets€of€repression.Ð V"¦! ÐÌ12.5€Moreover,€the€Committee€considers€that,€in€view€of€the€fact€that€Pakistan€is€not€a€partyÐ "$r# Ðto€the€Convention,€the€author€would€not€only€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture,€inÐ %X $ Ðthe€event€of€his€forced€return€to€Pakistan,€but€would€no€longer€have€the€possibility€ofÐ î%>!% Ðapplying€to€the€Committee€for€protection.Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ12.6€The€Committee€therefore€concludes€that€substantial€grounds€exist€for€believing€that€theÐ  (ð#( Ðauthor€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€and,€consequently,€that€the€expulsionÐ †)Ö$) Ðor€return€of€the€author€to€Pakistan€in€the€prevailing€circumstances€would€constitute€aÐ l*¼%* Ðviolation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€orÐ R+¢&+ ÐDegrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð13.€In€the€light€of€the€above,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€that,€in€the€prevailingÐ ° Ðcircumstances,€the€State€party€has€an€obligation€to€refrain€from€forcibly€returning€Ô_ÔTahirÔ_ÔÐ –æ ÐHussain€Khan€to€Pakistan.Ð |Ì ÐÌ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.]Ð H˜ ÐÌÓªÓ