A sharp rise in deadly police encounters in Punjab has drawn strong criticism from human rights watchdogs, with many of the incidents reportedly carried out by a newly formed special police unit. Rights groups say such encounters increasingly resemble extrajudicial killings, being used as a substitute for the criminal justice system.
According to details, citing data compiled by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), over 500 alleged encounters have occurred in Punjab since January 2025, resulting in the deaths of more than 670 individuals—the highest figure among all provinces.
In a statement released Monday, HRCP expressed deep concern over what it described as the “growing normalization” of such incidents. The trend, the commission noted, has accelerated since the creation of the Crime Control Department (CCD) in February 2025, a special wing of the Punjab Police.
“HRCP is gravely concerned that the CCD, originally intended to combat serious crime, has effectively become a parallel police force with sweeping powers—including registering FIRs, detaining suspects, and conducting lethal operations against so-called dangerous criminals,” the statement read.
The rights body warned that this trend undermines rule of law and constitutional protections, particularly the right to a fair trial.
Responding to HRCP’s accusations, a spokesperson for the Crime Control Department said CCD is not the only agency in Punjab authorized to register cases or pursue criminals. Other agencies, including the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Anti-Corruption Department (ACD), and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also have similar mandates.
The spokesperson dismissed HRCP’s concerns as unsubstantiated, stating that the watchdog had made baseless allegations without evidence.
