MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The mysterious death of Fareeha Afraim, a medical student from Bagh, Azad Kashmir, at Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore, has reached the Azad Kashmir Assembly, where the forum, through a resolution, has demanded a judicial inquiry from the Punjab government.
In the resolution presented by Minister for Communications and Works Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar, the Legislative Assembly expressed deep sorrow and regret over the suspicious death of a brilliant student, the late Fareeha Afraim, from Bagh district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, who passed away on February 17, 2026, in the hostel of Fatima Jinnah Medical College in Lahore, Punjab.
“In the opinion of this house, this incident has caused severe shock and concern not only for the family of the deceased but for the entire people of Azad Kashmir. More than a month has passed since this incident, but the heirs of the deceased have not yet been provided with the post-mortem report, forensic report, and CCTV footage, which has raised concerns about transparent investigations.”
The house held that the demands of justice are that investigations should be transparent and all information should be provided to the affected family.
“This is not just a problem for one family but a matter of protection for thousands of male and female students of Azad Kashmir who go to other provinces for education.”
The resolution stated that Article 9 of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the protection of life for every citizen. Article 10-A grants the right to a fair trial and transparent investigations, while Article 14 guarantees the protection of human dignity.
In the event of a suspicious death of any citizen, transparent investigations and providing information to the heirs is a constitutional duty, the resolution stated.
Conduct judicial inquiry
Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar said that the Punjab government also has the authority to conduct judicial inquiries into such incidents under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1956.
The resolution demanded that the Punjab government conduct an immediate, transparent, and impartial judicial inquiry into this incident.
All reports should be immediately provided to the heirs, and if negligence of any individual or institution is proven, action should be taken against those responsible according to the law so that justice can be served to the heirs of the deceased.
On this occasion, the Speaker directed that Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar’s resolution be sent to the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly.
