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LAHORE, Jul 23 (APP):The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday directed Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar to conduct a comprehensive review of all police encounters carried out by the Crime Control Department (CCD) across the province in consultation with senior police officers.
Chief Justice Aalia Neelum issued the directive while hearing a petition filed by a woman, Farhat Bibi, seeking protection for her son, currently incarcerated in Sheikhupura Jail, after the custodial death of his brother in an alleged police encounter.
During the proceedings, IGP Dr Usman Anwar appeared before the court along with Sheikhupura DPO and Assistant Advocate General Waqas Umar. A detailed report was also submitted on behalf of the Punjab police chief.
The petitioner’s counsel alleged that his client’s son Ghazanfar Aslam was killed in a staged encounter on April 22 while in police custody under physical remand. He further claimed that another son, currently jailed in Sheikhupura, is also at risk of being eliminated in a similar manner.
The chief justice, however, urged the counsel to stick to facts rather than emotions, noting that the
nature of FIRs in police encounters may follow a pattern, but not in this case. The court questioned the police narrative, particularly the SHO’s claim that the accused’s accomplices had opened fire on police — despite no bullet casings being recovered from the scene.
Responding to the court’s concerns, the IGP stated that Ghazanfar Aslam had attacked and injured a police constable just 13 days before the alleged encounter. He also highlighted the increasing number of casualties suffered by law enforcement during operations against criminals.
Nonetheless, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum voiced alarm over the growing number of encounter-related petitions being filed. “We are receiving up to 50 petitions daily. There is a climate of fear surrounding these CCD encounters. Sit with your officers and properly review the matter,” she advised the IGP.
Following the hearing, the court disposed of the petition.