LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought assistance from the advocate general of Punjab regarding the legal status and mechanism of the Crime Control Department (CCD).

Justice Farooq Haider heard a petition filed by Azam Ali, a resident of Sialkot, expressing apprehensions that his arrested son might be killed in a fake police encounter.

The petitioner stated that daily reports of encounters by the CCD were being published in the media. He said in most cases, the official version would state that suspects were ‘killed by firing from their own accomplices’. He asked the court to issue an order restraining the police from killing his son in a fake encounter and order for his security in the Sialkot jail.

During the hearing, Justice Haider observed that the court would like to examine why there was a need to establish the CCD when Punjab Police and other institutions already existed.

The judge remarked, “The judiciary works to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.”

Assistant Advocate General Idrees Bhatti appeared in the court and sought more time to submit a reply.

The judge directed the advocate general to personally appear on July 22 and assist the court on the matter. The judge also sought a detailed report from the Sialkot jail by the next hearing.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2025