BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab health department has denied that Mussarat, a deceased girl, and her injured brother, Khalid, who were subjected to physical torture by their father, Muhammad Ismail, in a village near Lodhran - were affected by polio. According to the chief executive officer (CEO) of the district health authority, Lodhran, both siblings developed disabilities 10 and 15 years ago, respectively. The CEO stated that preliminary diagnosis indicated their condition was caused by a hereditary disease rather than polio. He said a committee had previously been constituted to verify the nature of their condition. The committee’s findings revealed no signs of polio in the two victims, who had since reached adulthood.