The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday issued notices to relevant parties in an ongoing encounters case concerning killings in alleged police encounters in Punjab. The notices were issued after a miscellaneous plea sought to make the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) a party in the proceedings.
A single bench of Justice Shahram Sarwar adjourned further hearing of the encounters case until April 4. The petition, filed by advocate Azhar Siddique, challenges killings in alleged police encounters across Punjab.
Punjab Police, in its official reply, rejected claims of fake encounters involving the Crime Control Department (CCD). The department highlighted that crime rates in Punjab have dropped by up to 60% since the CCD’s establishment. A detailed report was submitted to the Lahore High Court in response to the petition.
Petitioners stated that since January 2025, around 1,100 people have been killed in alleged police encounters in Punjab. The petition argued that such killings violate the constitution and Supreme Court rulings. The murder of advocate Zeeshan Shabbir Dhaddi in Vehari was cited as a recent example of an alleged police encounter.
The petition also noted that the FIA is legally required to investigate custodial killings within 30 days. However, petitioners claimed that no inquiries have been conducted despite these legal obligations. They urged the court to direct the FIA to investigate all killings in police encounters since January 2025.
Additionally, the petition seeks the Lahore High Court’s order for the strict enforcement of the Anti-Custodial Killings Act 2022. Petitioners emphasized the need for immediate steps to halt police encounters in Punjab until proper investigations are completed.
The encounters case highlights ongoing concerns about police conduct and the need for accountability in the province. Legal experts said the court’s intervention could set a precedent for stricter oversight and adherence to constitutional protections in law enforcement.
The next hearing of the encounters case is scheduled for April 4, when the court is expected to review progress on the FIA’s involvement and the overall investigation into alleged police killings.
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