CCD Punjab Killed 900 people in 8 Months without any trial: Allegation
2/22/2026, 1:00:00 AM
CCD Punjab Killed 900 people in 8 Months without any trial: Allegation By Staff Reporter | Daily Rawalpindi Punjab’s Crime Control Department (CCD), a specialized unit established under the provincial government’s “zero crime policy,” is facing serious allegations of carrying out a large number of extrajudicial killings across the province. According to statements issued by human rights organisations and petitions filed in the Lahore High Court in 2025, approximately 900 suspected individuals were killed within eight months in what were officially described as “police encounters.” Rights groups allege that many of these individuals were neither formally charged nor produced before a court of law prior to their deaths. Human rights advocates argue that the pattern of incidents raises critical concerns. In most reported cases, police statements claimed that suspects opened fire during raids or while in custody, forcing officers to retaliate. However, critics question the consistency of these narratives, particularly in cases where police casualties were minimal compared to the high number of civilian deaths. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has previously called for independent judicial inquiries into encounter killings in Punjab, stressing the need for transparent investigations, registration of First Information Reports (FIRs), and accountability under the law. Legal experts maintain that under Pakistan’s Constitution, particularly Article 9 (right to life) and Article 10A (right to fair trial), no individual can be deprived of life without due process. Petitioners in court have described the alleged encounters as “an alternative to the criminal justice system,” arguing that bypassing arrest, investigation, and trial undermines the rule of law. Punjab Police and CCD officials, however, have strongly rejected allegations of staged encounters. They maintain that operations target hardened criminals involved in serious offences such as armed robbery, drug trafficking, and organized crime, and that force is used strictly in self-defence during armed confrontations. The issue has sparked a broader national debate: while many citizens support strict action against crime, legal experts warn that sustainable law enforcement must operate within constitutional boundaries. Without independent investigations and judicial oversight, allegations of extrajudicial killings risk eroding public trust in state institutions. As the matter remains under legal scrutiny, calls continue for transparent accountability mechanisms to determine whether these encounters were lawful acts of self-defence or violations of fundamental rights. Give me a title for this article
