LAHORE (HRNW): A damning report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised a grave alarm over the spike in custodial deaths and alleged extrajudicial killings in Punjab. According to the findings, 924 individuals, including two women, have been killed in purported “police encounters” carried out by the Counter-Crime Department (CCD) over a period of just eight months.
The report suggests that a significant majority of these incidents are “fake encounters,” pointing toward a systemic bypass of the judiciary. Activists and legal experts argue that by failing to produce suspects in court and choosing instead to deliver “on-spot justice,” law enforcement agencies are signaling either a lack of faith in the legal system or a belief that they operate above the law.
Key Concerns Raised by HRCP:
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Bypassing Due Process: The report highlights that the constitutional right to a fair trial is being systematically undermined. Instead of seeking convictions through the courts, suspects are being eliminated in staged shootouts.
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Inclusion of Women: The killing of two women in these encounters has sparked particular outrage, with human rights advocates calling for immediate judicial inquiries into these specific cases.
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Institutional Accountability: The report notes a disturbing trend where institutions appear to act as judge, jury, and executioner, raising questions about the oversight of the Punjab government over its specialized departments.
Potential Fallout
Human rights defenders warn that such a high volume of extrajudicial activity risks a severe public backlash. “When the reaction to these state-led actions begins, the government will find no place to hide,” the report suggests, implying that the erosion of the rule of law could lead to widespread civil unrest and a complete breakdown of public trust in the state.
The HRCP has called for the immediate formation of an independent judicial commission to investigate every encounter listed in the report and has urged the federal government to ensure that law enforcement agencies adhere to international human rights standards.
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