Cause of deaths in custody being probed
Questions regarding custodial deaths have arisen during an inquiry as the families of two women who recently died in custody at the Township police station have alleged that they had been handed a First Information Report (FIR) and asked to arrange bail for them before being informed that they had died.
The women, Anmol and Amina, were reportedly sisters-in-law and residents of Pakpattan.
According to their relatives, they belonged to a poor family and lived in a makeshift settlement.
They had been arrested in connection with a case registered on the complaint of a citizen, Zeeshan Latif, alleging that they had attempted to fraudulently obtain gold earrings and money from a woman.
The police said the women fell critically ill while in custody and were shifted to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Police officials reportedly suspected a drug overdose, while the families have rejected the version and demanded an impartial investigation.
A judicial inquiry into the deaths has been initiated. The inquiry team has visited the police station and recorded statements of the personnel and family members.
Meanwhile, footage showing the two women inside the police station has also surfaced. In one video, the women can be seen walking past a room inside the police station. The footage is expected to be examined by the inquiry team along with other closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings to establish the sequence of events before their deaths.
The families have also questioned the circumstances surrounding the transportation and burial of the bodies. According to relatives, police had accompanied the bodies from Lahore to Pakpattan and a heavy contingent was present during the funeral and burial.
Video footage of the funeral showing substantial police presence has also surfaced.
The relatives alleged that the funeral and burial had been carried out hurriedly and claimed that they had not been given sufficient time to make arrangements.
The bodies had been buried in Basti Ghaus Nagar after funeral prayers were reportedly offered at Dargah Basti Chan Pir.
Another aspect under scrutiny is the background of the complainant.
Documents obtained by the families of the deceased show that Latif had appeared in several criminal cases registered at Township police station in different capacities, including as complainant, witness and for surety.
The record is being examined to determine whether the person named in those cases is the same who had lodged the complaint against the two women.
The inquiry is also expected to determine the timeline of the women's arrest, interrogation, transfer, health deterioration, arrival at hospital and deaths.
The post-mortem and toxicology reports will be crucial in confirming the cause of death.
Lahore police recently issued directions concerning the presence of women at police stations after sunset, although senior officers later clarified that there was no blanket ban on women being present on the premises after the evening.
The judicial inquiry is expected to determine whether police procedures were followed.