924 deaths in eight months; seeks halt to extrajudicial actions and FIA-led investigations
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for the formation of a high-level judicial commission to investigate deaths resulting from operations conducted by Punjab’s Crime Control Department (CCD), alleging a pattern of staged police encounters and extrajudicial killings.
In a fact-finding report issued from Lahore, the HRCP alleged that the CCD had adopted encounter killings “as a matter of policy,” undermining the rule of law and constitutional safeguards in the province.
Citing press reports, the commission said at least 670 CCD encounters were recorded during the first eight months of 2025, in which 924 suspects were killed. In contrast, only two police officials lost their lives during the same period. The “stark disparity,” coupled with an average of more than two fatal encounters per day, indicated a systematic pattern rather than isolated incidents, the report added.
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The HRCP maintained that its mission found violations of domestic law as well as Pakistan’s international human rights obligations. Referring to the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act, 2022, it noted that every custodial death must be investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under the supervision of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), but said it found no clear evidence of compliance in the cases reviewed. In one instance, a court directed the FIA to conduct an inquiry.
The report added that mandatory magisterial proceedings under Sections 174 to 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure also appeared not to have been conducted. It further said the Punjab government, CCD and police authorities did not respond to requests for meetings, reflecting what it described as a lack of transparency.
The fact-finding team highlighted an “atmosphere of fear” among affected families. One family alleged police pressured them to conduct an immediate burial and warned of consequences if the case was pursued. Such threats, the report said, would constitute a criminal offence and obstruct justice.
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HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt said the CCD’s actions were inconsistent with the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which stipulate that lethal force be used only when strictly unavoidable and proportionate, and that accountability be ensured for violations.
He stressed the need for immediate and transparent judicial investigations to uphold the rule of law.
The report warned that sustainable law and order could not be achieved through extrajudicial measures. It recommended an immediate halt to encounter-based operations, mandatory FIA investigations under NCHR supervision, the creation of an independent civilian police oversight commission, and compensation for the families of those killed.
