In Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, the notorious practice of police “encounters” by the Crime Control Department (CCD) has come under intense scrutiny, raising serious questions about its legitimacy. A recent high-profile case has amplified these concerns: In early January 2026, Additional District and Sessions Judge Sahibzada Naqeeb Shehzad in Rawalpindi declared an alleged encounter suspicious after reviewing CCTV footage that showed the suspect, Naeem alias Guddu, being arrested alive from his home by CCD personnel. The footage, presented in court, contradicted police claims of a shootout on Chakwal Road, where Guddu was reported killed during an exchange of fire.
The court accepted a petition filed by the deceased’s sister, Asia Bibi, and directed that a case be registered under abduction and murder provisions against three inspectors, five constables, and all other CTD (Counter-Terrorism Department)/CCD personnel present during the operation. However, in a further disturbing development, the Station House Officer (SHO) and Head Moharrar of Waris Khan Police Station reportedly refused to receive the judicial order directing the registration of a murder and kidnapping case against the CCD officers. According to sources, the complainant woman (Asia Bibi) was expelled from the police station, while police personnel allegedly issued threats, forcing her to call the emergency helpline 15 for assistance.
While ostensibly aimed at empowering police to neutralize criminal gangs, reports indicate that many individuals have been killed in these operations over personal disputes or rivalries, rather than proven criminal activity.
The Punjab Police has long been criticized as one of the most corrupt forces in the country, often accused of serving as a tool for political victimization. The brutal use of force against political opponents and dissenters has become increasingly common, with numerous viral videos documenting severe torture and alleged extrajudicial killings circulating on social media.
The recent establishment of the CCD in February 2025, initiated by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, was intended to combat organized crime, including gang violence, extortion, and heinous offenses. However, it has sparked widespread debate over the legitimacy of a force that effectively acts as both police and judge, resulting in hundreds of alleged criminals killed in what critics describe as staged or fake encounters. Human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), have condemned this as a dangerous erosion of due process.
Notably, these harsh measures appear to target ordinary citizens and low-level suspects disproportionately. In cases involving serious crimes like rape and gang rape, at least 14 suspects were killed in CCD encounters between May and August 2025 alone, according to media reports tracking such incidents.
Viral videos on social media have highlighted disturbing patterns of excessive force, including allegations of severe brutality in custody. However, no verified reports confirm incidents where sexual harassment victims were specifically shot in private parts. In contrast, when police personnel themselves face allegations of misconduct—such as a highway patrolling officer caught on video harassing a woman in a bus in October 2025—the response has typically involved arrest and departmental action, highlighting perceived inconsistencies in accountability.
The data reveals alarming trends: According to HRCP compilations as of October 2025, Punjab recorded more than 500 police encounters since January 2025, resulting in over 670 fatalities—the highest in any Pakistani province. Other reports suggest the toll could be higher, with some estimates reaching nearly 800 deaths in the first nine months of the year, and figures approaching 1,100 by late 2025. This marks a sharp escalation since the CCD’s formation, turning what was meant to be a crime-control initiative into a symbol of unchecked lethal force.
These police killings in Punjab bear similarities to the controversial “war on drugs” under former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte (2016–2022), where thousands were executed extrajudicially in operations targeting drug users and peddlers. Duterte’s approach, which encouraged vigilante and police violence, led to widespread impunity and international condemnation, culminating in his 2025 arrest by the International Criminal Court on crimes against humanity charges.
In Pakistan, this wave of encounters has drawn massive scrutiny from human rights groups like HRCP, which warn of a “growing normalization” of extrajudicial killings that substitutes for the rule of law. Under Pakistani law and the Constitution, there is a formal procedure requiring trials and prosecutions for crimes—procedures that are being bypassed through what critics call “death squads” in uniform. This not only violates domestic human rights protections but also contravenes international law, including obligations under treaties Pakistan has ratified.
Human rights advocates urge immediate independent investigations, greater oversight of the CCD, and a return to judicial processes to prevent further abuses and restore public trust in law enforcement. The Asia Bibi case underscores the urgent need for accountability, as judicial directives face resistance even at the local police level.
