LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday summoned Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar to appear in person in connection with the killing of a suspect in an alleged encounter with the Crime Control Department (CCD), while questioning the usual police narrative following such incidents.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum was hearing a petition filed by Farhat Bibi, who approached the court seeking protection for the life of her son.

Advocate Aftab Rahim told the court that two sons of the petitioner, Ghazanfar Aslam and Ansar Aslam, were arrested by Sharqpur Police. He said Ghazanfar was killed in a fake encounter on April 22, 2025 and there was now a serious threat to the life of the petitioner’s second son.

On the court’s query, the SHO concerned stated that Ghazanfar was killed when his accomplices attacked the police.

Chief Justice Neelum questioned whether any police constable was injured or if there were any bullet marks on the police vehicle.

She observed, “Whenever there is firing, the bullet is so intelligent that it never hits a police official or vehicle.

Why does it only hit the suspect?”

She further noted that the FIRs of all alleged police encounters follow the same pattern and that the court was increasingly receiving petitions questioning deaths in such alleged CCD encounters.

The chief justice directed the IGP to appear in person on Wednesday (today).

Meanwhile, theLahore High Court disposed of another petition of a citizen who expressed his apprehension that his arrested son may be killed in a staged encounter by the CCD.

Justice Malik Javed Iqbal Wains heard the petition filed by Azam Ali, a resident of Sialkot.

The petitioner requested the court to restrain the police from killing his son, Raahat, who is detained in Sialkot jail.

On the court’s directions, the CCD submitted its report, saying that multiple cases had been registered against the petitioner’s son. It further stated that the cases against the petitioner’s son were pending before various courts and any decision made by the courts will be duly implemented.

The judge disposed of the petition in light of the CCD report.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2025