Lahore: The Internal Accountability Branch has completed its inquiry into the alleged torture of Ghulam Murtaza, the husband of a woman who died in Lahore’s Bhati Gate area.
The inquiry was ordered by Punjab Chief Minister following public concern over the incident.
According to police sources, the investigation was conducted by senior officers including Additional IG Imran Mahmood, DIG Nasir Aziz Virk, and DIG Imran Kishwar. The inquiry report has declared SP City Bilal and SHO Bhati Zain responsible for misconduct and illegal actions.
The inquiry report stated that both officers picked up Ghulam Murtaza from the scene and shifted him to Bhati police station, while no questioning was carried out from other relatives present at the location.
The report further revealed that police officers immediately contacted the woman’s father and also kept a relative named Tanveer at the police station.
A key finding of the inquiry was that Ghulam Murtaza was allegedly tortured inside the SHO’s room, and the incident was reportedly confirmed through CCTV footage installed in the room.
The report said he was kept in illegal detention for nearly four hours and forty-five minutes.
The inquiry team also visited Shorkot and recorded Ghulam Murtaza’s statement. He told investigators that police officers repeatedly pressured him to confess to killing his wife and daughter.
However, in their statements, the SP and SHO claimed that only “minor” force was used.
Police officers stated that Rescue services and other departments had suggested that it was “not possible” for the woman to drown at the scene, which led to suspicion and the decision to take the husband to the police station.
The inquiry report is expected to lead to departmental action against the officers found responsible.
