London, Aug. 13 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Pakistani authorities to ensure a prompt, independent and transparent criminal investigation into the deaths of a woman and a 17-year-old girl in police custody in Lahore's Punjab province on August 5.

According to the HRW report, the two sisters-in-law, identified only as Anmol and Amina, died while in police custody. The rights organisation said the deaths have renewed concerns over alleged torture and other ill-treatment in police custody, particularly involving women and girls, as well as the authorities' failure to hold police officials accountable despite the passage of the 2022 Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act.

In the report, HRW's senior Asia as...