A groundbreaking report published by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on February 17, 2026, has accused Punjab’s specialized Crime Control Department (CCD) of institutionalizing a policy of “staged encounters.”
The fact-finding mission documents a staggering rise in fatalities, alleging that the unit has been operating as a “parallel police force” with virtual impunity since its formation.
The Numbers: 924 Deaths in 8 Months
The HRCP documented the CCD’s activities between its inception in April 2025 and December 2025. The findings reveal a massive disparity in casualties that the commission argues points to extrajudicial executions rather than legitimate combat.
Punjab police department CCD has killed many innocent people, registered fake cases against innocent. Ccd taking bribes from one opponent and killing other opponents. They are taking bribes from drug dealers and registering cases against people who have nothing to do with drugs! https://t.co/SuS6E5HrhD
— KHURRAM AWAN 🇵🇸🍁 (@khuramakhial) February 19, 2026
Fatalities: 924 suspected criminals were killed in approximately 670 “encounters.”
- Police Casualties: Only 2 police officers were killed and 36 injured during the same period.
- Geographic Focus: The highest number of killings occurred in Lahore (139), followed by Faisalabad (55) and Sheikhupura (47).
- Category of Victims: The majority of those killed were suspects in cases of dacoity (366), narcotics (114), and robbery (138).
The “Copy-Paste” Narrative
The HRCP report highlights a recurring, “strikingly similar” pattern in the First Information Reports (FIRs) and police media releases:
- The Setup: Suspects are almost always on motorcycles at night, act “suspiciously” at roadblocks, and open fire first.
- The Outcome: The suspects are killed while their “accomplices” escape into the darkness.
- The “Dying Declaration”: In numerous cases, the FIR claims a mortally wounded suspect regained consciousness just long enough to volunteer his full name, address, and criminal record to the officers who shot him, a claim HRCP describes as “copy-paste structuring.”
Political Context: The “Safe Punjab” Vision
The CCD was established under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to fulfill the “Safe Punjab” vision. While the department claims its “intelligence-driven” model has reduced property crimes by 60%, human rights advocates warn of the cost to the rule of law.
- Impunity Allegations: The commission notes that families are often pressured to bury their dead immediately to prevent independent post-mortems.
- Institutional Silence: Both the Punjab Police and provincial ministers (including Azma Bokhari and Marriyum Aurangzeb) reportedly failed to respond to HRCP’s requests for meetings or data.
- Legal Violations: The report states these actions violate the Torture and Custodial Death Act 2022, which mandates FIA investigations into every custodial death.
Summary of HRCP Recommendations
The Human Rights Commission has called for immediate and drastic measures to restore judicial oversight:
- Moratorium: An immediate province-wide stop to all “encounter” operations.
- Judicial Inquiry: A high-level investigation into the 924 deaths by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and the FIA.
- Compensation: Mandatory financial support for the families of those killed if extrajudicial intent is proven.
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