The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) criticized Punjab’s Crime Control Department (CCD) for engaging in staged encounters leading to extrajudicial killings, undermining the rule of law. In 2025, the HRCP reported 670 CCD-led encounters in eight months, resulting in 924 suspect deaths and two police officers killed. The HRCP called for a high-level judicial inquiry into these deaths due to the consistent operational patterns observed.
The HRCP highlighted a pervasive climate of fear among victims’ families, with reports of police pressuring families to bury the deceased immediately and issuing threats against pursuing the cases further. The organization deemed this intimidation as criminal conduct obstructing justice. The practice of police encounters for crime control in Pakistan has faced criticism, with concerns raised by courts, civil society, and human rights bodies regarding lack of accountability and violations of the right to life.
According to the HRCP, CCD operations do not align with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, emphasizing the need for accountability and compliance with human rights standards. The HRCP stressed the importance of establishing legal safeguards and independent oversight mechanisms, calling for a province-wide moratorium on encounter operations until reforms are implemented to ensure adherence to constitutional and international human rights standards.
