LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has demanded the formation of an independent judicial tribunal headed by a serving judge of the Lahore High Court to investigate the deaths of two women, Amina and Anmol, in custody at Township Police Station, Lahore.
The demand was made in a fact-finding report released by the HRCP the other day, which pointed out several discrepancies in the official stance and the statements of the families, noting that the reasons and circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
According to the report, the two women were taken into custody by police on August 4 on charges of alleged theft and died within a few hours. Following the incident, conflicting official statements emerged regarding the time of death, the sequence of events, the ages of the women, and whether they were alive or dead when shifted to the hospital.
The HRCP noted that police had initially declared the deaths as heart attacks, but the final post-mortem reports are yet to be released, leaving the final cause of death undetermined.
The report highlighted inconsistencies between the families’ claims and official records. The families claimed to have seen bruises and dried blood marks on the bodies, while official documents did not mention any external injuries.
The fact-finding mission also questioned the initial post-mortem reports, stating that the medical observations in both reports were remarkably similar.
The mission further expressed concern over the alleged absence of lady police officers during the detention of the women, the delay in informing the families, and what it described as unusual police control over the post-mortem, burial and subsequent access to the graves.
The report also questioned the police claim that both women were drug users, stating that available evidence did not support the allegation.
While acknowledging that a judicial inquiry under Section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been initiated, the HRCP said the overall inconsistencies in the case warrant a more credible and independent investigation.
The Commission demanded that the Punjab government constitute an empowered judicial tribunal headed by a serving judge of the Lahore High Court, with powers to summon witnesses, order production of evidence, and present its findings to the public within a specified timeframe.
HRCP suggested that the tribunal should order an independent forensic examination, including re-postmortem or exhumation if necessary, preserve and review the complete CCTV record, and independently verify the official timeline of events.
The report also called for immediate protection and legal assistance for the families of the deceased, noting that their weak economic circumstances could make them vulnerable to pressure or threats while pursuing justice.
According to HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt, a transparent and independent investigation is essential in view of the inconsistencies in the case.
