Pakistan: 924 Extra-judicial Killings In Eight Months; Has Police In Pakistani Punjab Turned Rogue?

Islamabad: Serious questions have been raised about police encounters in Pakistan's Punjab province. This issue emerged following a report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). The report claimed that several encounters conducted by the Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) occurred under suspicious circumstances. The Human Rights Commission has demanded an impartial and judicial investigation into these incidents.

According to reports, the CCD claimed approximately 670 encounters between April and December 2025. These encounters claimed 924 suspects were killed, while only two police officers died during this period. This significant discrepancy in figures raises questions. The Human Rights Commission argues that if such a large number of encounters occurred, the police should have suffered significant losses. The Commission calls this an impossible calculation and calls for a transparent investigation.

What is the police's response?

The HRCP investigation also revealed that in many cases, the official version of the encounters was nearly identical. In most incidents, it was stated that the accused fired first, and the police responded in self-defense. However, in many cases, independent witnesses were absent, and the details of the cases filed against the accused were unclear. The Commission states that such similar stories cast doubt on the veracity of these encounters.

What are allegations by victim families?

Victim families alleged that their relatives were first detained and later informed of their deaths in the encounter. Some families say they faced difficulties in retrieving the bodies. The Human Rights Commission, calling these allegations serious, has demanded that the government conduct a high-level judicial inquiry into the entire matter. Also, if there is any violation of law, strict action should be taken against the responsible officers.