Directs Okara DPO to register FIR against concerned officials, submit compliance report in 15 days
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday ordered the registration of a criminal case against officials of the Crime Control Department (CCD) over the alleged illegal detention of a citizen, ruling that video evidence contradicted the department’s account of the incident.
Justice Amjad Rafiq issued the written order while hearing a petition filed by Maqsooda Bibi directing the Okara District Officer of Police (DPO) to register a First Information Report (FIR) against the officials concerned and submit a compliance report within 15 days.
According to the written order, the petitioner claimed that Gulfam Ali was released from jail on June 27 but was immediately detained outside the jail by persons dressed in plain clothes.
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During the proceedings, the court examined the CCTV footage of the incident submitted by the superintendent of Lahore District Jail and other available evidence.
Lahore Defense CCD Inspector/Inspector Akhtar Ali told the judge that Gulfam had been arrested in connection with a criminal case registered in Okara on July 2, however, Justice Rafiq noted that CCD’s version was contradicted by the video evidence before the court.
The judge held that filing an incorrect report with the court and keeping a citizen in unlawful custody were cognizable offenses warranting criminal proceedings.
The court subsequently directed the Okara DPO to register an FIR against the officials concerned and submit a report after complying with the order.
On June 18, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in a submission on X had warned the Punjab government about the increase in extrajudicial killings by the CCD in Punjab.
The organization noted that the CCD “routinely” adopted the use of deadly force as a tactic to control crime.
HRCP notes with alarm that extrajudicial killings have continued in Punjab despite the organization warning the Punjab government in an earlier report that @CCD_Punjab is apparently routinely using lethal force as a tactic to ‘control’ crime. Since…
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) June 18, 2026
“Since CCD was formed in April 2025, HRCP has documented 808 police ‘encounters’ in which at least 1,100 suspects have been killed,” the post stressed, adding: “The fact that this normalization of lethal force without due process has directly resulted in the death of a nine-year-old child is the conscience of the Punjab government.”
The HRCP lamented that while the CCD recognized the incident as a “violation” of departmental rules, it could not be treated as an isolated operational error, nor could internal accountability replace independent oversight.
