LAHORE :Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum has directed the Inspector General (IG) Punjab to review the recent police encounters carried out by the Counter Crime Department (CCD).The directive was issued during the hearing of a petition filed by Farhat Bibi. Following the court’s order, IG Punjab appeared in person, and Assistant Advocate General Muhammad Waqas Umar submitted a report on his behalf.
During the proceedings, the government counsel informed the court that a police encounter occurred on April 22. The suspect was being transported back after recovery when the police vehicle got a flat tire. During this time, accomplices of the accused attacked, and Ghazanfar was killed in the firing by his own associates.The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the accused was in physical remand and was killed in custody. He further said that the accused’s brother is currently in Sheikhupura Jail and fears that he may also be killed in a similar manner under the guise of a police encounter, as seen in similar FIRs. The lawyer requested protection for the jailed accused.
Chief Justice Aalia Neelum asked the lawyer not to be emotional and to stick to the facts of the case. She noted that although similar FIRs are often filed in such cases, this particular case does not appear to involve wrongdoing, and the suspect had undergone an identification parade before being killed. She remarked, “The police do many things, but nothing suspicious is evident in this case.”The chief justice added that the SHO previously claimed the accused was killed by his accomplices during an attack on the police vehicle, but there were no bullet marks on the vehicle. As the SHO failed to satisfy the court, the IG was summoned.
Addressing the IG Punjab, CJ Aalia Neelum asked for his explanation. IG Punjab stated that it came to their notice that the suspect had attacked in a previous encounter 13 days ago, and several officers had been martyred in firing by the suspects.The chief justice expressed satisfaction with the IG’s report but instructed him to review all recent CCD police encounters. She noted that a wave of such incidents was ongoing and that as many as 50 petitions are being filed daily against alleged fake encounters.
LHC CJ orders IG Punjab to review CCD police encounters
Published: July 23, 2025 | Updated 11 hours ago
LHC CJ orders IG Punjab to review CCD police encounters
Published: July 23, 2025 | Updated 11 hours ago
LAHORE :Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum has directed the Inspector General (IG) Punjab to review the recent police encounters carried out by the Counter Crime Department (CCD).The directive was issued during the hearing of a petition filed by Farhat Bibi. Following the court’s order, IG Punjab appeared in person, and Assistant Advocate General Muhammad Waqas Umar submitted a report on his behalf.
During the proceedings, the government counsel informed the court that a police encounter occurred on April 22. The suspect was being transported back after recovery when the police vehicle got a flat tire. During this time, accomplices of the accused attacked, and Ghazanfar was killed in the firing by his own associates.The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the accused was in physical remand and was killed in custody. He further said that the accused’s brother is currently in Sheikhupura Jail and fears that he may also be killed in a similar manner under the guise of a police encounter, as seen in similar FIRs. The lawyer requested protection for the jailed accused.
Chief Justice Aalia Neelum asked the lawyer not to be emotional and to stick to the facts of the case. She noted that although similar FIRs are often filed in such cases, this particular case does not appear to involve wrongdoing, and the suspect had undergone an identification parade before being killed. She remarked, “The police do many things, but nothing suspicious is evident in this case.”The chief justice added that the SHO previously claimed the accused was killed by his accomplices during an attack on the police vehicle, but there were no bullet marks on the vehicle. As the SHO failed to satisfy the court, the IG was summoned.
Addressing the IG Punjab, CJ Aalia Neelum asked for his explanation. IG Punjab stated that it came to their notice that the suspect had attacked in a previous encounter 13 days ago, and several officers had been martyred in firing by the suspects.The chief justice expressed satisfaction with the IG’s report but instructed him to review all recent CCD police encounters. She noted that a wave of such incidents was ongoing and that as many as 50 petitions are being filed daily against alleged fake encounters.