PPP Demands Judicial Inquiry Into Custodial Deaths in Pakpattan

Opposition figures from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Lahore have voiced sharp criticism against the Punjab provincial administration, raising severe concerns over law enforcement operations while demanding a formal judicial commission to investigate the unexplained deaths of two women in Pakpattan.

According to reports from Business Recorder, party representative Ahmed Ghuman alleged that the victims were buried while under police custody after reportedly suffering concurrent heart attacks. Ghuman called for official postmortem examinations of the deceased, referencing procedural standards set during the Raza Mir case, and urged federal interior authorities to assist in rebuilding the operational capacity of the Punjab police.

Directing his criticism at Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Ghuman argued that the provincial law enforcement framework has collapsed amidst an increase in violent crimes targeted at women. As part of his demands for administrative accountability, he insisted that polygraph testing be conducted on key executive aides within the provincial government.

Addressing broader political and security matters, PPP leader Sania Kamran criticized routine administrative responses to assault cases, stating that police suspensions alone fail to deliver justice. She also acknowledged diplomatic efforts by President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir regarding US-Iran tensions, while recommending talks with the Muslim League concerning Azad Kashmir alongside concerns over recent election re-polling.

Adding to the governance critiques, PPP's Azain Gulzar highlighted widespread municipal issues affecting Lahore. He pointed out failing urban infrastructure, including an overburdened sewerage system, chronic traffic bottlenecks, persistent electricity load-shedding despite investments in solar energy, and limited coverage under the provincial government's public cleanliness programs.