In a sharp rebuttal, the Punjab Police emphatically denied allegations made by former MPA Sumera Komal that she was tortured while in custody. The police statement calls the accusations “completely baseless” and says no evidence supports the claim.
Sumera Komal had publicly claimed that she was subjected to mistreatment during her detention. According to the police, she was handled according to standard procedures and taken care of as per legal norms. They insist that all steps taken were lawful and documented.
The police’s firm denial is set against the backdrop of wider concerns about custody and treatment of detainees in Pakistan. Advocacy group Justice Project Pakistan has previously noted that torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement remain “endemic and systematic” in the country.
In a related context, the case of a custody death in Karachi, which was transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency for probe, hints at growing scrutiny of police conduct in detention settings.
For now, the police claim there is no medical or legal documentation supporting torture in Komal’s case. They have invited any party with evidence to come forward and said they are ready for an independent review if required. Sumera Komal’s legal team is reportedly considering further steps and may approach the court to press the matter.
The tension between the former MPA’s serious allegation and the police’s categorical denial raises questions over access to justice, transparency in detention, and accountability mechanisms in Pakistan’s criminal justice system. The coming days may reveal either proof to substantiate the claim or a dismissal of the matter, but the public interest in how detainees are treated remains high.
