An open letter to the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan regarding concerns about torture, media clampdown and intimidation Dear Chief Justice Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, We are extremely concerned about the disturbing trend of suppression of media freedom in Pakistan and the use of illegal methods such as torture to subdue political opponents. The most pressing case is the recent violent arrest of Dr. Shahbaz Gill (Chief of Staff to Chairman PTI Imran Khan and Assistant Professor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) who was charged with sedition 1 for voicing concerns on ARY TV about government officers taking illegal actions. 2 Subsequently, there are disturbing reports of Dr. Gill being stripped 3 and tortured 4 5 and being placed in the death cell. 6 The wife of his driver was also picked up and imprisoned with her 10-month-old suckling baby. 7 8 We are also witnessing severe suppressio...