Investigation opened into death of suspect held by Lahore police

An inquiry has been started into the death of a man identified as Usman while he was in police custody in Lahore, and officials are also weighing a judicial inquiry to clarify the circumstances of his demise. A police spokesperson said the director‑general of operations ordered a senior superintendent of police to examine the case and submit a report. According to the spokesperson, South Cantt police arrested Usman on suspicion of fraud after he allegedly concealed his identity and pretended to be a government official. While officers were preparing the first‑information report, his condition suddenly worsened. He was then taken to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology by Rescue 1122 for emergency care. Doctors attended to him for roughly fifty minutes, but he suffered a cardiac arrest and died during treatment. A post‑mortem will be carried out to determine the exact cause of death, and the director‑general of operations has also decided to refer the matter for a judicial inquiry to ensure a transparent investigation.

The probe follows earlier deaths in police custody in Lahore. In August, two women named Anmol and Amna died while being held in the city’s Township area. Video recorded shortly before their arrest later surfaced, showing the women in a dispute with residents of B Block in Township, who were demanding the return of money they claimed had been taken in a robbery. Police said the women were transferred to the investigation wing after a case was filed. The footage captures the women trying to leave the scene before police arrived. Lahore police confirmed that the mobile‑phone video has been included in the ongoing inquiry.