Delhi | RBN News
Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has alleged a significant rise in extrajudicial killings by Punjab province’s Crime Control Department (CCD), stating that at least 924 suspected individuals were killed in police “encounters” between April and December 2025.
The findings are contained in a fact-finding report released on February 17, which describes what it terms a “systemic policy of extrajudicial killing” in violation of the Constitution and existing legal safeguards.
Punjab police have rejected the allegations, maintaining that their operations are intelligence-driven and aimed at dismantling organised criminal networks.
Allegations of Widespread Encounter Killings
According to the HRCP report, the CCD was formally established in April 2025 with a mandate to combat serious and organised crime. Within eight months of its formation, the commission documented at least 670 police encounters resulting in 924 deaths.
The report notes that Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, has historically recorded encounter killings, but the current figures mark a sharp increase.
For comparison, HRCP’s 2024 annual human rights report recorded 341 suspects killed in police encounters across Punjab and Sindh combined over the entire year. The new figures from a single provincial unit in less than eight months exceed that number substantially.
The highest number of reported encounters occurred in Lahore (139), followed by Faisalabad (55) and Sheikhupura (47). Among those killed, the largest category comprised individuals accused of dacoity or armed robbery (366 deaths), followed by suspects linked to robbery (138), narcotics offences (114), and murder cases (99).
Case Highlighted in Report
The HRCP report includes testimony from families affected by the encounters. One case cited involves a family in Bahawalpur, whose members were detained during a raid and later reported killed in separate police encounters across different districts within 24 hours.
Family members denied that the deceased had criminal records and alleged threats following attempts to pursue legal action.
Punjab police have not publicly commented on the specific case referenced in the HRCP findings.
Pattern in Police Reports
The commission states that police First Information Reports (FIRs) filed after the encounters contain “strikingly similar” language across multiple districts. In many cases, suspects are described as travelling at night, behaving suspiciously, and opening fire first, prompting police to retaliate in self-defence.
The HRCP alleges that identical phrasing and narrative structures suggest a standardised reporting pattern rather than incident-specific documentation.
Police media statements issued after encounters reportedly emphasise the alleged criminal backgrounds of the deceased while omitting procedural details, including independent forensic verification.
Government and Police Response
In court submissions cited by HRCP, the CCD has argued that its operations have led to a reduction in property crimes by more than 60 percent over a seven-month comparison period with 2024. It also claims a similar decline in dacoity-related murders.
The department maintains that it operates under an intelligence-led policing framework and has dismantled organised criminal gangs.
Punjab authorities have dismissed allegations of extrajudicial killings, stating that the HRCP has not provided conclusive evidence to substantiate its claims.
Repeated requests for comment from Punjab police and provincial officials reportedly did not receive responses at the time of the HRCP report’s publication.
Broader Context
Human rights observers note that police encounter killings have been reported across Pakistan for decades. HRCP data indicates nearly 5,000 encounter cases nationwide over the past decade, with almost 2,000 occurring in Punjab.
Between 2020 and 2023, annual encounter figures in Punjab remained below 400. However, in 2024, the number rose to 1,008, more than tripling compared to the previous year. The 2025 data reflects fewer total encounters but a significantly higher number of fatalities.
Legal experts argue that concerns over weak prosecutions, court delays, and political pressure to curb crime may contribute to the trend. However, they caution that bypassing judicial processes undermines constitutional protections and the rule of law.
Accountability and Due Process Concerns
The HRCP has called for independent investigations, transparent postmortem procedures, and institutional reforms to ensure accountability.
The commission maintains that even if crime rates decline, the methods used to enforce law and order must adhere to constitutional principles. It argues that addressing crime through summary execution rather than judicial process raises fundamental questions about governance and due process.
Punjab authorities have not announced any independent inquiry into the reported incidents.
What Happens Next
Human rights groups are expected to seek judicial oversight and further investigation into the CCD’s operations. Legal challenges may arise in provincial or federal courts regarding alleged violations of fundamental rights.
The debate has intensified discussions on policing reform, judicial efficiency, and safeguards against misuse of state power.
Further developments are anticipated as responses from provincial authorities and oversight bodies emerge.
