The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised serious allegations against Punjab’s specialized police unit, claiming that it has been involved in the extrajudicial killings of over 900 individuals. This claim stems from a detailed fact-finding report published by the HRCP, which highlights the alarming trend of increased police encounters in the province.
Last November, a raid conducted by armed officers from the Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) at Zubaida Bibi’s residence in Bahawalpur led to devastating consequences for her family. Following the raid, which resulted in the seizure of valuables including gold jewelry and cash, five of her family members, including her three sons, met their deaths within just 24 hours under suspicious circumstances across various locations in Punjab.
Zubaida recounted her family’s harrowing experience to HRCP representatives, stating that police threats forced her to withdraw a legal petition for the return of her sons. Her husband, Abdul Jabbar, asserted that his sons had no criminal history and were employed with families of their own.
The HRCP’s report, published on February 17, indicates that between April and December 2025, the CCD recorded around 670 police encounters, resulting in 924 deaths of individuals considered suspects. This specialized unit was established primarily to tackle organized crime but has drawn severe criticism for operating outside the boundaries of the law.
Farah Zia, director of HRCP, commented on the historical context of extrajudicial killings in Punjab, noting that this pattern of violence dates back to the 1960s. The rise of encounter killings has reignited discussions around the state’s responsibility to uphold the right to life and ensure justice.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the CCD was formed to advance the provincial government’s “Safe Punjab” initiative. However, the implementation of this strategy has coincided with a notable surge in police encounters, where over 900 suspects were reportedly killed within a mere eight-month period. In comparison, the HRCP documented only 341 encounter-related fatalities in Punjab and Sindh combined during the entirety of the previous year.
The data reveals a significant concentration of these incidents in urban areas like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Sheikhupura. The majority of the deceased were accused of serious crimes such as armed robbery. The CCD employs tactics of intercepting alleged criminals under the pretext of self-defense during nighttime operations, with varied accounts of suspects allegedly opening fire first.
Widespread similarities in police reports, including identical phrases used to describe encounters, suggest a troubling pattern of procedural misconduct. HRCP’s findings indicate a lack of transparency in official police communications, which often omit critical details while emphasizing the alleged criminal activities of the deceased.
Human rights advocates have voiced concerns that the current strategy reflects a broader policy endorsed by the highest levels of government, emphasizing short-term crime reduction over sustainable law enforcement practices. The CCD defends its operations by claiming a significant decline in property crimes and establishing its methodology as intelligence-driven.
The HRCP asserts that regardless of any crime rate reductions, the importance of lawful methods of engagement remains paramount. Families impacted by these police encounters frequently report being pressured to bury their dead without independent forensic investigations.
A former senior Punjab police official noted that systemic issues within the justice framework and political pressure contribute to the justification of extrajudicial killings. The dichotomy between controlling crime and adhering to due process continues to shape police behavior in Punjab.
The HRCP has highlighted a steep increase in encounter cases, with a marked rise in fatalities over recent years. Observers have labeled many of these incidents as staged killings, raising ethical concerns about the state’s approach to justice and the treatment of its citizens.
Legal experts contend that the normalization of state-sanctioned violence presents a dangerous precedent, emphasizing that due process must be upheld to prevent abuse of power against not only the purported criminals but potentially any dissenting voices in society.