LAHORE: A Punjab police report filed with the Lahore High Court has claimed that the establishment of the controversial Crime Control Department (CCD) led to a significant decline in serious crime across the province.

“The rationale behind the establishment of the CCD was to deal effectively with serious and organised crimes,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Anwar said in the report.

The report was submitted in connection with a petition against alleged fake encounters by the CCD in Punjab and for the implementation of the Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act 2022. Advocate Mian Dawood and others filed the petition in the wake of the killing of a young lawyer in Vehari. The police report claimed that the CCD, as per its mandate, right from its formation has been working against the hardened criminals and inter-district and provinces gangs.

It further claimed that crimes against property have decreased by more than 64 per cent while incidents of dacoity with murder have been reduced by up to 60pc during the last seven months.

Report presented to LHC defends crime control dept; claims 60pc drop in robbery and murder cases

It said the petitioners levelled unfounded and baseless allegations against the CCD.

The report stated that the CCD has the duty to uphold law and order pursuing criminals through lawful means, ensuring arrests, investigations and prosecution within the bounds of due process.

It said the CCD has a very strong disciplinary and accountability mechanism and stringent action is taken against the delinquent official.

About the killing of lawyer Zeeshan Dhaddi in Vehari, the report said the case has been referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for an inquiry under the Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act 2022.

The police also challenged the locus standi of the petitioners, saying they approached the court without exhausting adequate remedy in the form of filing a complaint before the FIA. It asked the court to dismiss the petition.

Justice Abher Gul Khan would hear the petition on Feb 4.

The petition claimed that since the creation of the CCD, the national media and human rights bodies have been highlighting incidents of extra-judicial killings by Punjab police.

It argued that the CCD created a state of fear and panic in the society with the impression that the police can, now, kill any person by declaring him a criminal after preparing his past criminal record by implicating them in already lodged FIRs through supplementary statements.

According to media reports, nearly 1,100 citizens have been killed in police encounters so far, it added.

The petition argued that the superior judiciary, in multiple judgments, has already declared fake police encounters unconstitutional and illegal.

“Fake encounters are being used as an alternative to the criminal justice system,” it alleged.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2026