LAHORE: As many as eight suspects have allegedly been killed during `encounters’ with the Crime Control Department (CCD) in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Pattoki, Multan and Vehari during the last 24 hours.

In Sialkot, a police team in search of an accused was fired upon by five unidentified motorcyclists near Cheema Bridge. When police retaliated, they entered nearby fields. “When the firing stopped, the police conducted a search operation and found two suspects injured who died before Rescue 1122 could reach the spot. They were identified as Zohaib alias Zohaibi and Shafqat alias Ishaq Gujjar. The two accused were residents of Dhule village in Gujranwala.

In, Pasrur, a police team was fired upon by three unidentified suspects on Shehzad Road. When police retaliated, the assailants fled in the cover of darkness. Police later conducted a search operation and found Ali Hamza of Muslim Town, Gujranwala, dead.In Gujranwala, a CCD team signaled motorcyclists to stop in Tathali Aali area during a routine check. However, the suspects started firing. The CCD team responded and arrested a suspect who was injured by the firing of his own associates. The suspect died on the spot due to critical condition. He was identified as Umer Sohail and was wanted in dozens of cases.

In another incident in Gujranwala, CCD Inspector Ali Raza was tasked with arresting an alleged car lifting gang run by Abbas Zulfiqar resident of Chak Jhuri. The suspects had stolen three cars from Gujranwala after Eidul Azha. When the police team tried to arrest the accused, the suspects opened fire. The police team retaliated and accused Abbas Zulfiqar was killed in the encounter.

In Pattoki (Kasur), CCD conducted a raid to arrest ‘dangerous suspects’ who opened fire on the police team and fled the scene. During a search operation, Ghulam Dastgir was found injured and later died due to critical condition. According to the CCD, the accused were wanted by police in murder, attempted murder, theft, robbery and other serious cases.

In Multan, dacoit Asif and his accomplice Tehmina were injured in a crossfire with police in the limits of Gulghast police station, Multan, near Dewaan Wala Bagh on Nawabpur Road. The police claimed that they were involved in 29 cases of burglary, abduction, attempted murder and rape. The police said their three accomplices fled.

In another case, one Allah Ditta was injured while his two accomplices fled after firing on the CDD team near Amir Shah graveyard in Multan.

In another encounter at Pakistan Chowk in Multan, three motorcyclists were stopped by patrolling CDD team who started firing. In the exchange of fire, Muhammad Mohsin was arrested after he sustained injuries while his two accomplices escaped.

In a similar incident, a CCD patrolling team was fired upon by three motorcyclists when they were signaled to stop near Agriculture University, Multan. When CCD retaliated. Dilshad Kalyar of Bahawalpur was found dead “by the firing of his own accomplices while the other fled the scene.” The deceased was involved in 40 cases of robbery, robbery with murder and theft in different districts. The team recovered a motorcycle and 30-bore pistol from the scene. He was also involved in killing a businessman Fazal Abbas in Jalalpur last month.

In another operation, Vehari CCD team tried to stop three motorcyclists at a check post on Burewala Road. The suspects did not stop and opened fire. The police retaliated and after the firing stopped, the suspect was found dead. He was identified as Aijaz, a proclaimed offender in several cases in Vehari and Burewala. Police recovered a motorcycle and a weapon from the scene while his accomplices fled away.

In Mitro police limits in Vehari, Javed of village 381/WB was arrested after he was injured in an encounter. Police said his two accomplices escaped under the cover of darkness. Multan CDD team and Mitro police claimed that he was involved in several cases.

Meanwhile, Lodhran CCD arrested five members of an alleged gang of robbers and recovered nine rickshaws and four motorcycles worth Rs 40million. The suspects were involved in drugging the drivers and driving away with their rickshaws and motorcycles.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2025