Islamabad, February 17: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has accused the Crime Control Department (CCD) of Punjab province of systematically conducting fake encounters and adopting a policy of extrajudicial killings. The commission stated that this trend severely undermines the rule of law and constitutional protections.
Citing media reports, the HRCP revealed that in the first eight months of 2025, at least 670 encounters were recorded under the CCD, resulting in the deaths of 924 suspects, while two police officers also lost their lives during this period.
The commission noted, “The significant imbalance in casualties—averaging more than two fatal encounters daily and a similar methodology across various districts—indicates that these are not isolated incidents but rather an institutional practice. Therefore, a high-level judicial inquiry into these deaths is warranted.”
The HRCP also highlighted a pervasive atmosphere of fear among victim families. One family alleged that police officials pressured them to conduct the immediate burial of the deceased, warning that if the matter was pursued, other relatives could also be targeted. The commission described this as a criminal act and an obstruction of justice.
The report stated that the use of police encounters in the name of crime control has long been contentious in Pakistan. Provincial governments, especially in Punjab and Sindh, have justified it as a necessary measure to combat crime and extremism. However, courts, civil society organizations, and human rights bodies have repeatedly expressed concerns over these extrajudicial killings and the lack of accountability.
According to the HRCP, the actions of the CCD do not comply with the United Nations’ “Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials,” which stipulate that lethal force should only be used in extreme necessity and proportional circumstances, with violators held accountable.
The report also noted that CCD press releases and first information reports consistently contain similar narratives, claiming that suspects fired first, prompting police to respond in self-defense, and labeling the deceased as “notorious criminals.” The commission interpreted this as a sign of a planned message rather than independent actions.
The HRCP emphasized that sustainable public safety cannot be achieved through “deadly shortcuts” that bypass investigation, prosecution, and judicial accountability.
The report demands an immediate halt to all “encounter operations” across the province, the necessity of independent investigations, accountability for the guilty, and the implementation of structural reforms in line with constitutional and international human rights standards.
The commission warned that if immediate corrective measures are not taken, the normalization of state violence could permanently damage Pakistan’s justice system, democratic institutions, and international image.
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