The Bahawalpur Police have initiated a formal inquiry following allegations of torture made by Mehtab Kanwal, an employee of the Bahawalpur Health Department, during a recent press conference.
Mehtab, who claimed she was subjected to severe mistreatment by the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Police, has formally lodged a petition at the DPO Bahawalpur office, prompting District Police Officer Sarfraz Khan to call for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the matter.
The police spokesperson confirmed that the investigation would include the officers allegedly involved and noted that Mehtab Kanwal had expressed her satisfaction with the proceedings, highlighting the impartiality of the law.
The call for an investigation followed the emergence of a distressing video featuring Mehtab Kanwal, where she detailed her ordeal at a press conference held at the Bahawalpur Press Club. In her account, she described horrific abuse, including being beaten with shoes and subjected to electric shocks on her chest and head by CIA Police personnel and Abdullah, leading to her losing consciousness.
Despite seeking help, Mehtab reported that she was denied hospital admission by the rescue services and was instead continuously assaulted to extract information she claimed not to possess. She also disclosed that her employment as a computer operator was terminated following an unrelated drug case, and her crises deepened with her husband facing ongoing legal challenges, including charges of extortion.
Further complicating her harrowing experience, Mehtab revealed that the alleged police brutality had led to a miscarriage and the loss of her government job. Cleared of previous drug charges, she continues to seek justice, voicing fears that without intervention, the distress could drive her to despair. Mehtab’s plight has spotlighted serious concerns about police conduct and the need for stringent oversight to prevent abuse and protect citizens’ rights.
