Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Pakistani authorities to launch a prompt, independent, and transparent criminal investigation into the deaths of a woman and a 17-year-old girl in police custody in Punjab province on 5 August. The Washington-based rights group identified the two victims — sisters-in-law — as Anmol and Amina, and said their deaths expose deep-rooted failures in Pakistan's detention system.

What Happened in Lahore

According to HRW, Lahore police received a complaint on 4 August from a local resident alleging that a woman had entered his home and taken gold ornaments and cash. Residents reportedly apprehended the two sisters-in-law and handed them over to the police. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered, and the two were separated — one taken to Lytton Road police station and the other to Township police station.

Police claimed the health of both women deteriorated within hours of their transfer. Anmol died at the police station itself; Amina died after being shifted to a hospital. Autopsies were delayed by nearly two days, reportedly because police had not completed the required formalities. Some officials attributed the delay to difficulties in verifying the women's identity documents.

Families Allege Torture and Cover-Up

The families of the two women have directly contested the police's account. They said that when they went to the Township police station after being informed of the arrests, they were told both women had been sent to jail and should arrange bail. The bodies were handed over to the families only on 6 August.

Family members have alleged that both bodies bore torn clothing and visible marks of torture. They have further claimed that police offered them money to stay silent — an allegation the police have denied. Authorities have instead suggested that initial inquiry reports indicated both women were chronic drug users who may have died of an overdose.

Autopsy Findings and Forensic Questions

The autopsy reports listed cardiac arrest as the cause of death for both women, without specifying an underlying cause. Medical examiners said they had forwarded biological evidence to a forensic laboratory for further analysis. HRW noted that the delayed examination of the bodies — particularly when attributed in part to the same department whose officers are under scrutiny — represents a failure of the duty to investigate.

Patricia Gossman, Senior Asia Associate Director at HRW, said: 'The authorities in Lahore have obligations under Pakistani and international law to promptly and impartially investigate the deaths of a woman and girl in police custody. That investigation needs to be independent of the officers under scrutiny, and those responsible for any wrongdoing need to be appropriately prosecuted.'

Pakistan's 2022 Custody Law: Poorly Enforced

HRW pointed to a 2022 law enacted specifically to address torture and ill-treatment in police custody, saying it remains largely unenforced. According to data cited by the rights group, the Federal Investigation Agency told the Lahore High Court that as of 30 April, it had registered 364 inquiries nationwide under the law — but only 52 had progressed to formal criminal cases.

In Punjab province alone, 266 inquiries yielded just 19 registered FIRs. The agency cited resource and budget constraints as limiting enforcement. Compounding the problem, the rules required to operationalise the 2022 legislation were approved only in November 2025 — more than three years after the law's passage.

HRW has previously documented beatings, sexual violence, sleep deprivation, and other forms of abuse in Pakistani police custody. Women and girls in detention, the group notes, are particularly vulnerable to mistreatment including sexual assault and coercion.

What HRW Is Demanding

The rights group has urged Pakistani authorities to register a criminal case under the 2022 act, appoint investigators independent of the Punjab police, and ensure effective oversight by the National Commission for Human Rights. HRW has also called for stronger safeguards across all detention facilities, with particular attention to the protection of women and children in custody.

Whether Pakistani authorities act on these demands — and whether the forensic evidence from the laboratory provides clarity — will determine if accountability follows or if this case joins a long record of unresolved custody deaths in the country.