Death of two women in Lahore police custody: HRCP points out inconsistencies in official record and account of victims’ family

LAHORE: An impartial report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has uncovered significant discrepancies between the official account of events and the testimony of the family of two young women, Amina and Anmol, who perished in police custody at Lahore’s Township police station. The women were detained on August 4, in connection with perceived theft, and succumbed to their injuries within two hours.

Subsequent official narratives have presented conflicting information regarding the sequence of events, the timing of the deaths, the women’s ages, and the condition of their bodies upon arrival at the hospital. Though the police attributed the deaths to cardiac arrest, the definitive postmortem reports remain unresolved.

According to the HRCP's comprehensive assessment, there is a stark contradiction between the family's account and the official record. The family maintains that the women's bodies displayed visible bruises and dried blood, while official documents consistently report the absence of any external injuries. The commission also casts doubt on the credibility of the preliminary postmortem findings, pointing out that the two reports share strikingly similar medical observations.

Furthermore, the HRCP raises serious concerns over the alleged absence of female police officers during the victims' detention, the delay in notifying their families, and the excessive control exerted by the police over the postmortem process, the burial arrangements, and subsequent access to the graves' site.

The commission also challenges the police's assertions that the victims were drug addicts, arguing that there is insufficient evidence to substantiate these claims. While recognizing the judicial inquiry launched under Section 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc), the HRCP's report concludes that the many inconsistencies in the case necessitate a more reliable and independent investigation process.

Consequently, the commission urges the Punjab government to establish a judicial tribunal, presided over by a sitting judge of the Lahore High Court, with full authority to summon witnesses, present evidence, and publish its findings within a predetermined timeframe.

Additionally, the HRCP recommends that the tribunal should order an independent forensic examination of the bodies, potentially including exhumation if required, and conduct a thorough review of the complete DVR record. The commission further calls for an impartial verification of the official timeline of events. Most importantly, the report underscores the need for immediate protection and legal assistance for the women's families, as their disadvantaged socioeconomic status renders them particularly vulnerable to intimidation while seeking justice.