924 deaths in eight months; seeks to stop extrajudicial actions and investigations led by the FIA
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for the formation of a high-level judicial commission to probe deaths resulting from operations carried out by the Punjab 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 clash killings “as a matter of policy”, undermining the rule of law and constitutional safeguards in the province.
Citing media reports, the commission said at least 670 CCD encounters were recorded during the first eight months of 2025, in which 924 suspects were killed. By contrast, only two police officers lost their lives during the same period. The “stark disparity,” along with an average of more than two fatal encounters per day, indicates 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, he noted that every custodial death must be investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under the supervision of the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR), but said he found no clear evidence of compliance in the cases reviewed. In one case, a court ordered the FIA to conduct an investigation.
The report adds that it also does not appear that mandatory judicial procedures have been carried out under articles 174 to 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He further said that the Punjab government, CCD and law enforcement authorities did not respond to requests for meetings, reflecting what he described as a lack of transparency.
The research team highlighted an “atmosphere of fear” among the affected families. One family alleged that police pressured them to conduct an immediate burial and warned them of the consequences if the case continued. Such threats, according to the report, would constitute a criminal offense and obstruct justice.
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HRCP Chairman 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 should be used only when strictly unavoidable and proportionate, and that accountability for violations is ensured.
He highlighted the need for immediate and transparent judicial investigations to uphold the rule of law.
The report warned that sustainable public order could not be achieved through extrajudicial measures. It recommended immediate cessation of clash-based operations, mandatory FIA investigations under the supervision of the NHRC, creation of an independent civil police oversight commission and compensation for the families of those killed.
