JHANG – A deeply disturbing case reported from Jhang, where 17-year-old college student Ishal Fatima was found in critical condition at a hospital and later died under suspicious circumstances, triggering outrage, grief, and a high-level probe that led to the arrest of three suspects.
According to police and hospital records, the incident came to light on June 7, when Eshal’s mother received an anonymous phone call informing her that her daughter was in a “seriously deteriorating condition” and was admitted to a private hospital in the city.
The call directed the family to a specific medical facility, a detail that immediately raised questions about how the caller had access to such sensitive information.
Eshal Fatima had left her home in Jhang on June 4, as she was going to collect clothes from a tailor near a friend’s house. According to the family, she was later picked up by the younger brother of a friend on an electric scooter. For days, her whereabouts remained unknown. The family initially did not report the matter to police, believing she might be staying with her friend.
On June 7, the situation escalated dramatically when a private hospital informed Satellite Town police that several unidentified young men had dropped off a semi-conscious girl before fleeing the scene. At that point, neither the hospital nor police knew the identity of the girl.
Police moved the unidentified patient to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Jhang, where treatment began at approximately 11:30 a.m., according to hospital records.
Despite emergency care and the presence of law enforcement officials, Ishal’s condition rapidly deteriorated. Shortly after an initial statement was recorded from her father and an FIR was registered, she succumbed to her condition.
The father filed an FIR stating that unknown individuals had abducted his daughter and later abandoned her in an unconscious state at a hospital. The case was registered under sections related to kidnapping with intent to rape and administering poisonous or harmful substances (Section 337-J). After her death, murder charges were also added.
Investigators recovered CCTV footage from the private hospital, which reportedly shows a car arriving at approximately 9:26 a.m. on June 7.
According to police sources, three young men are seen removing an unconscious girl from the vehicle and placing her onto a wheelchair before taking her inside the hospital. A fourth suspect allegedly remained inside the car. Authorities claim the suspects’ faces are clearly visible in the footage, although one individual appears to be wearing a mask.
Jhang police confirmed that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, and the vehicle used in the incident has also been recovered. Officials say investigations are ongoing and multiple angles are being examined, including the possibility that the incident was “pre-planned.”
Initial medical observations from DHQ Hospital suggest that the girl may have been exposed to a toxic or intoxicating substance. Samples from her body have been sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency in Lahore for further analysis, which will determine the exact cause of death.
The case has triggered widespread outrage on social media, with activists, celebrities, and users demanding justice and accountability.
Police officials say the case is still unfolding and further details will be revealed once forensic reports are completed and interrogations of the arrested suspects progress.
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