Two Women Die in Lahore Police Custody as Judicial Inquiry Begins

LAHORE: A judicial inquiry has begun into the deaths of two women who died after being taken into police custody in Lahore, with their families alleging torture while police have given a different account of the deaths.

Amina, aged under 18, and 22-year-old Anmol were arrested on Aug. 4 in connection with a case involving allegations of theft and fraud and were taken to Town Ship police station in Lahore.

Police said both women fell ill within hours of being brought to the station and were taken to hospital, where they later died.

According to police and family members, the two women were sisters-in-law.

A police official said a judicial magistrate had begun an inquiry following orders from the Lahore district and sessions court. Under Pakistani law, a judicial inquiry is conducted when a suspect dies in police custody or a prisoner dies in detention.

The official said that if a post-mortem examination, judicial inquiry or forensic report establishes that police torture was involved, strict departmental and legal action would be taken against those responsible.

Families Allege Torture, Police Reject Claims

Anmol's husband, Saqlain, has alleged that his wife and sister were subjected to violence while in police custody. He said he saw his wife's body and claimed there were apparent injuries on her face and back.

The family has rejected police claims that the women were drug users and that their deaths may have resulted from an overdose.

Police, however, have denied allegations of torture or mistreatment. Lahore police officials have said preliminary investigations indicated that both women were drug users and that an overdose was suspected as the cause of death.

Police said video footage covering the women's movements from the time they were detained until their presence at the police station had been collected. Officials also said recordings of their interactions with police personnel had been obtained.

Theft and Fraud Case

The women were arrested after a case was registered against them at Town Ship police station on Aug. 4 on the complaint of a citizen.

The case was registered under sections 379 and 420 of Pakistan's Penal Code, relating to theft and cheating or fraud.

According to the complaint, the two women allegedly entered a house while asking for water and later took gold earrings and cash. The complainant said the women returned the earrings but did not return the money, after which police were called.

A police officer involved in the investigation said the women had allegedly faced previous fraud cases in Lahore and Gujrat. Those claims have yet to be established through the ongoing legal proceedings.

Post-Mortem Report Awaited

Police said post-mortem examinations of both women had been conducted and that detailed reports were awaited to determine the cause of death.

Pakistan Peoples Party Punjab leader Hassan Murtaza has also called for a transparent investigation into the incident.

The families said the two women were buried in an area near Pakpattan district in Punjab.

The circumstances surrounding the deaths are expected to be determined through the judicial inquiry, post-mortem findings and forensic evidence.