E/CN.4/1992/17 page 58 Norway Letters and Government replies 168. On 18 October 1991 the Special Rapporteur sent a letter to the Government of Norway transmitting information alleging that Hassan Salem, a 34-year-old Palestinian student at the University of Oslo, was ill-treated by four or five policemen after a public demonstration against the Gulf War, on 26 January 1991. According to the source, the police officers jumped on him, threw him to the ground and handcuffed his hands behind his back while one of them kicked his leg violently. Hassan Salem was then thrown to the floor of a police van where three or four officers trampled on him. It was further indicated that upon arrival at the Oslo Police Station at Gronlandsipiret, he was flung to the floor, still handcuffed, and placed in a room where he was beaten, kicked in the chest and dragged along the floor. After his release, Salem reportedly had to undergo surgery for a broken shin bone. 169. On 13 December 1991 the Government replied, with regard to the above-mentioned case, that Hassan Salem had been apprehended on 26 January in the centre of Oslo. The police officer who apprehended him did so by seizing his arms. When Mr. Salem then tried to break away, he was pinned to the ground and it was later established that his right leg had been broken. Mr. Salem later reported the police officer who apprehended him to the police. The complaint was investigated by an independent committee responsible for the investigation of alleged criminal offences committed by members of the police force or the prosecuting authorities, which concluded that the police officer had violated section 237 of the Penal Code by exercising unnecessary violence against Mr. Salem. The committee also concluded that the other police officers who took part in the apprehension were not guilty and recommended that a fine of 5,000 Norwegian kroner be imposed on the police officer. The prosecuting authorities agreed with this recommendation. Upon the police officer's refusal to pay the fine, the case was referred to the Oslo City Court, which in a judgment dated 9 October 1991 acquitted the police officer. According to the Court: "It has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Salem1s leg was broken by the "sweeping manoeuvre" performed by the person indicted, as set out in the writ that was not accepted. In the view of the court it is more probable that Mr. Salem1s leg was injured after the person indicted had pinned him to the ground. Accordingly, the person indicted is acquitted." Pakistan Urgent appeals 170. On 12 March 1991 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Pakistan concerning Rahila Tiwana and Shehla Raza, activists of the People's Student Federation, who were being held in police custody in Karachi on suspicion of carrying weapons illegally. Rahila Tiwana was arrested on 24 December 1990 and taken to an interrogation centre where