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LAHORE: A judicial magistrate has initiated an inquiry into the deaths of two underage girls who died while in police custody in Lahore on August 4. The inquiry was launched after the families of the deceased girls demanded an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The girls were identified as Amina and Anmol. They had reportedly remained in police custody for more than two hours before emergency services were called to the Township police station. The circumstances leading to their deaths have not yet been fully established. Proceedings have been initiated under Section 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The provision empowers a magistrate to examine deaths that occur in police custody or under other suspicious circumstances. The magistrate can record statements from relevant individuals during the inquiry. Witnesses may also be examined under oath. The law further allows the magistrate to order the exhumation of a body if a postmortem examination is considered necessary to determine the cause of death. The judicial proceedings are expected to focus on what happened while the two girls were being held at the police station. Authorities are likely to examine the circumstances surrounding their arrest, the period they spent in custody and the events that took place before Rescue 1122 was contacted. The timing of the emergency call has also become an important part of the inquiry. The families have sought clarity over the events inside the police station and called for the matter to be investigated independently. The deaths have raised concerns about the treatment of minors in police custody and the responsibility of officials overseeing detainees. The magistrate’s inquiry is expected to establish the sequence of events and determine whether any negligence or wrongdoing contributed to the deaths. Further action will depend on the findings of the judicial inquiry and other available evidence.

Eight members of the Pakistan Bar Council have criticised the federal government over what they described as a deliberate failure to comply with the Supreme Court’s order regarding the medical treatment of PTI founder Imran Khan. In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the lawyers said the Supreme Court’s August 18 directive was clear and binding. They alleged that the executive had disregarded the order by not transferring Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital as directed. The statement was signed by PBC members including PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Abid Shahid Zuberi, Muhammad Maqsood Buttar, Shafqat Mehmood Chauhan, Munir Ahmed Kakar, Abdul Sattar Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed and Qazi Muhammad Arshad. The members argued that the executive does not have the authority to ignore a binding judicial order. They said such conduct could undermine the authority of the judiciary, weaken the rule of law and damage the constitutional system of checks and balances. They also expressed concern that ignoring a court order could put fundamental rights at risk. According to the statement, judicial orders provide an important constitutional safeguard against arbitrary actions by state institutions. The lawyers further pointed out that the Supreme Court had already addressed the consequences of non-compliance in its August 18 order. They maintained that the government was aware of its obligations under the ruling. The PBC members also rejected the argument that filing a review petition could suspend the Supreme Court’s directive. They said a review petition does not automatically stop the implementation of an existing court order. They called for those responsible for the alleged violation to be identified and for appropriate legal proceedings to be initiated against them. The statement also raised questions about the impact of recent constitutional amendments on the judiciary and the rule of law. The lawyers argued that no constitutional amendment, political consideration or executive decision could provide legal protection for ignoring a binding Supreme Court order. They further questioned whether the constitutional rights to life, health, dignity and medical treatment were being applied equally to political leaders. The controversy follows the Supreme Court’s August 18 interim order directing authorities to transfer Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital within two days. The court had ordered his examination and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board. The bench, headed by Justice Shahid Waheed and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, was hearing petitions seeking hospitalisation, access to personal doctors and family members, and access to Imran’s medical records. The court had also directed that Dr Uzma Khan and Dr Faisal Sultan, Imran’s personal physician, be present during the medical examination. The government subsequently challenged the hospital-transfer order through a review petition. However, the Supreme Court returned the petition after raising objections over the preparation of the documents and the accompanying paper book. Security arrangements were later made around Shifa International Hospital, creating expectations that Imran would be shifted there. However, authorities subsequently took him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for a medical examination before returning him to prison. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the decision was linked to security concerns allegedly created by PTI workers near the hospital. The Pims administration later said specialists from Shifa International Hospital had participated in Imran’s eye assessment, while other examinations were conducted by Pims specialists. The medical issue has been under discussion since Imran was diagnosed with right central retinal vein occlusion, an eye condition, earlier this year.

Rain is expected in several parts of Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir today, according to the latest weather and flood forecast. The Flood Forecasting Division in Lahore said water levels remain elevated at several points along the Indus River. Low-level flooding is still being reported at Kalabagh, Taunsa and Guddu barrages. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as river flows remain higher than normal at these locations. The flooding at these barrages is currently classified as low-level. Relevant departments are keeping a close watch on water levels and river flows. Meanwhile, the situation at Chashma Barrage has returned to normal. No low-level flooding is currently being reported there. The possibility of rain in parts of Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir could affect water levels in some areas. Authorities are expected to remain alert, particularly in areas located near rivers and other waterways. Residents in vulnerable areas have been advised to stay informed about weather and flood updates and follow instructions issued by local authorities.