• Says 19 police officers martyred; 167 personnel injured during operations
• Rejects HRCP report on deadly encounters
LAHORE: The Crime Control Department (CCD), Punjab, said a comparative review of crime data for the post-May period of 2024 and 2025 showed a significant reduction in crime across Punjab, particularly in Lahore.
According to the CCD, the department commenced operations in Punjab in May last year and held a meeting to review its performance in crime control.
It stated that the provincial capital, Lahore, recorded some of the most pronounced crime reductions in its history.
The CCD said the murder cases fell from 361 to 220 (39pc), while attempted murder declined from 812 to 504 (38pc). Incidents of dacoity dropped from 35 to 15 (57pc), and house dacoity from 33 to 6 (82pc).
Robbery saw the sharpest decline, dropping from 8,213 to 1,823 — a 78pc reduction. Theft within boundary walls fell by 9pc and burglary by 44pc, while motorcycle and car snatching decreased by 69pc and 50pc, respectively.
Punjab recorded significant declines across major crime categories, with murders falling from 3,952 to 3,022 (24pc) and attempted murder down 18pc. Dacoity and robbery dropped by 60pc and 53pc, while theft within boundary walls and burglary decreased by 17pc and 27pc, respectively.
This reduction, however, was not without cost. Across the province, 19 police officers embraced martyrdom, and 167 personnel —including 13 CCD members — sustained firearm-related or other serious operational injuries, according to CCD Punjab.
HRCP findings rejected
Meanwhile, the CCD has rejected allegations made in a fact-finding report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), terming claims of staged encounters and extrajudicial actions as unfounded and contrary to the department’s operational framework.
The HRCP in its fact-finding report on CCD encounters in Punjab called for an urgent judicial inquiry into related deaths. It said that at least 670 encounters were conducted over eight months in 2025, resulting in 924 suspects killed, while two police officials lost their lives.
In a press release, the CCD stated that it does not follow any policy of staged encounters and operates strictly within the Constitution of Pakistan, the Police Order 2002 and applicable criminal procedure laws. The department maintained that arrest remains the primary objective of its operations and that the use of force is governed by the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality.
The CCD said lethal force is employed only as a last resort in situations involving armed resistance and imminent danger to life. It added that Punjab faces a complex security environment in which criminal gangs and organised groups often possess automatic weapons and engage law enforcement personnel with lethal intent, compelling officers to act in self-defence to protect themselves and civilians.
Responding to concerns about abuse of authority, the department acknowledged that any misconduct by individual officers is unacceptable.
According to the statement, officers found involved in corruption, abuse of power, or professional misconduct are being proceeded against under departmental and criminal laws without discrimination.
The CCD reiterated that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy against torture, corruption, fabrication of evidence, intimidation of citizens, and unlawful use of force.
Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2026
