Punjab Police Inquiry Confirms Torture of Husband in Lahore Bhati Gate Manhole Tragedy

By Dr Ansab Ali
Lahore, Pakistan – January 31, 2026
The Internal Accountability Branch (ICB) of the Punjab Police has completed its investigation into allegations of torture against Ghulam Murtaza, the husband of a woman who died along with her 10-month-old daughter after falling into an open manhole near Bhati Gate in Lahore
According to the inquiry report, two police officers illegally detained Ghulam Murtaza in the SHO’s room for about four hours and subjected him to torture. CCTV footage from the room was obtained and reviewed as evidence, confirming the incident
Ghulam Murtaza told the inquiry team that the officers pressured him to confess to murdering his wife and daughter. The team took him to Shorkot to record his statement. The report highlighted the unprofessional conduct of the two officers and recommended departmental action against them
The completed report has been submitted to the Inspector General of Police Punjab and will be forwarded to the Chief Minister of Punjab
Following media reports on the torture allegations, the concerned SHO has already been suspended
In their statements to the inquiry, the accused officers claimed they acted based on information from Rescue 1122 and other agencies indicating it was impossible for the woman to have drowned in the described circumstances, leading them to treat Ghulam Murtaza as a suspect and bring him to the station
Separately, concerns have been raised over how contradictory information about the Bhati Gate tragedy reached the media initially. A high-level committee, chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary, has been formed to investigate this matter. The committee will question officers from various departments, including the police