Lahore declares August 4 public holiday

KARACHI: Signs of reconciliation have begun to emerge within the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) after a violent confrontation at the party’s Bahadurabad headquarters, with senior leaders initiating behind-the-scenes contacts to ease tensions and restore unity. Two days after the clash, senior party figures, including Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and Anees Qaimkhani, visited the party’s central office to discuss organizational affairs. Speaking to reporters, Mustafa Kamal rejected speculation of an internal power struggle, insisting that the party remained united despite recent events. According to sources, communication has been established between the two rival camps—one led by Mustafa Kamal and the other by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui—in an effort to defuse tensions. A joint press conference is reportedly being considered as part of efforts to present a united front, although party leaders have neither confirmed nor denied the possibility. Notably, close associates of Siddiqui, who also serves as the party’s convener, did not attend the meeting at the headquarters. Despite the passage of two days since the confrontation, which reportedly involved a physical altercation and aerial firing, police have yet to register a First Information Report (FIR). Officials said no faction of the party has formally approached law enforcement to lodge a complaint. If neither side files a case, authorities are expected to register one on behalf of the state. Police sources said a draft FIR has already been prepared and is awaiting approval from senior officials before being formally registered. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have carried out raids and detained several MQM-P office-bearers and workers suspected of involvement in the violence. Officials said those currently in custody could face formal arrest once the FIR is registered, as investigations into the incident continue.

  The preliminary post-mortem report of two women who died while in police custody at Lahore’s Town Ship Police Station has been released. According to the report, there were no visible signs of physical torture on the bodies of the two women, and their deaths appear to have been caused by natural or medical reasons. However, the exact cause of death has not yet been established, and further forensic investigation is underway. The two women, identified as Anmol and Amina, were residents of Pakpattan and had been taken into police custody on suspicion of involvement in an alleged fraud-related incident. Both women died under mysterious circumstances on August 4 while they were being held at the Town Ship Police Station in Lahore. According to the initial post-mortem findings, multiple needle or syringe marks were found on the bodies of both women. The report, however, did not identify any apparent marks of physical violence or torture. Police officials have said that the final cause of death will only become clear after the forensic examination of samples collected from the bodies. Police have claimed that they suspect the two women may have consumed poisonous tablets while in custody. Samples and other relevant material obtained from both bodies have been sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis. The forensic report is expected to determine whether any poisonous substance or medication was present in their bodies and may help investigators establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths. According to police, the women had been arrested on allegations of fraud and deception. A video allegedly showing one of the women removing earrings from an elderly woman has also surfaced. Police said that a female resident of the Town Ship area had contacted the emergency helpline 15 and handed the two women over to the police after the incident. Residents of the neighborhood also provided police with another video. In the footage, the two women can allegedly be seen removing earrings from an elderly woman. The video has become an important part of the investigation as authorities attempt to establish what happened before the women were taken into custody. Another video recorded by a camera installed in the room of the police station’s duty clerk has also emerged. The footage reportedly shows Anmol and Amina sitting on chairs inside the police station. They appear to be conscious and interacting with the duty clerk. The video further shows the two women talking to the clerk shortly before they leave the room. The footage is being examined as part of the investigation into their deaths and may help investigators establish their condition and movements while they were at the police station. The deaths have raised questions about what happened to the women during their time in custody. While police have ruled out visible signs of physical torture in the preliminary post-mortem examination, the presence of multiple syringe marks and the allegation that the women may have consumed poisonous tablets have prompted further investigation. Authorities are now awaiting the forensic examination results, which are expected to provide crucial evidence regarding the exact cause of death. Until the final forensic report is received, officials have not reached a definitive conclusion about how the two women died.