Opinion ID: 203633
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Withholding of Removal and Protection under the Convention Against Torture

Text: Although we lack jurisdiction to consider Rashad's asylum petition, we can consider his request for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture. See Saad v. Keisler, 251 Fed.Appx. 1, 3 (1st Cir.2007). In order to qualify for withholding of removal, a petitioner must either demonstrate past persecution, which gives rise to a rebuttable presumption of future persecution, or must show that more likely than not he would face persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion should he return to his homeland. Aguirre-Aguirre, 526 U.S. at 419, 119 S.Ct. 1439; Limani v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 25, 31 (1st Cir.2008) (citing 8 C.F.R. § 208.16(b)(1)(i), (b)(2)). Basically, [w]ithholding of removal requires that the alien establish a clear probability of persecution, rather than merely a well-founded fear of persecution. Ang v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 50, 58 (1st Cir.2005). To qualify as persecution, a person's experience must rise above unpleasantness, harassment, and even basic suffering. Nelson v. INS, 232 F.3d 258, 263 (1st Cir.2000). Unlike withholdings of removal, relief under the Convention Against Torture does not require the petitioner to prove the reason for torture. Romilus, 385 F.3d at 8. Instead, the petitioner must prove that more likely than not he will be tortured if he is returned to his homeland. Id. To establish a prima facie claim under the [Convention Against Torture], an applicant must offer specific objective evidence showing that he will be subject to: `(1) an act causing severe physical or mental pain or suffering; (2) intentionally inflicted; (3) for a proscribed purpose; (4) by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official who has custody or physical control of the victim; and (5) not arising from lawful sanctions.' Id. (internal citations omitted). Rashad avers that he qualifies for withholding of removal and/or protection under the Convention Against Torture because if he were to return to Pakistan he would be tortured and/or persecuted because of his political affiliations. Rashad brings to this Court's attention that even though he was not an official of the PML-N, he helped organize political rallies. According to Rashad, on October 2000, he spoke at a political rally. Thereafter, the police, which were loyal to General Pervez Musharraf, searched for him and forced him into hiding. [5] Rashad fears that if he returns to Pakistan he could be tortured and/or persecuted by security forces. However, the IJ and the BIA held that Rashad did not qualify for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture. Our deferential standard of review does not permit us to second-guess the determinations of the IJ or the BIA, if they are supported by substantial evidence in the record. Khan v. Mukasey, 549 F.3d 573, 576 (1st Cir.2008). The substantial evidence standard demands that we uphold the agency's determination unless the evidence points unerringly in the opposite direction. Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Here, the evidence does not compel us to reject the agency's conclusion. See id. The evidence in the record does not show that Rashad experienced past torture, persecution, or that it was more likely than not that he would be persecuted on one of the above specified grounds if he returned to Pakistan. This conclusion is supported by the fact that before coming to the United States, Rashad traveled freely around Pakistan, stayed at his family's home, and was able to leave Pakistan in November of 2000 using his passport without any interference by Pakistani officials. Furthermore, Rashad's family continues to live peacefully in Pakistan. See Aguilar-Solis v. INS, 168 F.3d 565, 573 (1st Cir. 1999) (finding that the fact that close relatives continue to live peacefully in the alien's homeland undercuts the alien's claim that persecution awaits his return). As such, this Court finds that the evidence and testimony offered by Rashad is insufficient to compel a reasonable factfinder to conclude that more likely than not he would be tortured or persecuted if he were to return to Pakistan.