A high-powered police committee has been formed to investigate allegations of torture against the husband of a woman who, along with her 10-month-old daughter, died after falling into an open sewer in Lahore’s Bhati Gate area earlier this week. The incident occurred near the under-construction Data Darbar expansion project on Wednesday evening. While the woman’s body was recovered the same night, the infant was found the following day.
An FIR has been registered against three suspects under Section 322 (manslaughter), all of whom were arrested. The woman’s family alleged that police tortured her husband, accusing him of murdering his wife; he was detained for six hours before being released.
The inquiry committee, formed on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s directives, is led by the Internal Accountability Branch additional IG and includes Lahore’s DIG (Administration). Members have visited the site, reviewed CCTV coverage, recorded statements from family and witnesses, and questioned senior police officers involved.
Separately, the CEOs of the contracting company responsible for the Data Darbar expansion have been arrested, and the project team suspended following a preliminary inquiry highlighting negligence. Authorities have vowed continued investigation to hold all responsible parties accountable.
