Lahore tops Punjab in fatal police encounters

RAWALPINDI: Lahore has recorded the highest number of deaths in alleged police encounters across Punjab this year. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a total of 792 individuals were killed in 596 police encounters throughout Punjab during the first nine months of this year.

HRCP sources emphasize that the actual number of alleged police encounters across Punjab this year is significantly higher than reported. The commission has officially released statistics only on those police encounters in which fatalities occurred. According to the comprehensive statistics of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Lahore has the highest number of police encounters resulting in deaths, with 145 fatalities out of 111 incidents, followed by Faisalabad with 55 deaths out of 46 encounters, Gujranwala with 49 deaths out of 38 encounters, and Vehari with 43 deaths out of 30 encounters.

Additionally, 41 deaths occurred out of 33 police encounters in Sheikhupura, 33 deaths out of 24 police encounters in Okara, 32 deaths out of 23 police encounters in Toba Tek Singh, 31 deaths out of 26 police encounters in Rawalpindi, and 26 deaths out of 20 police encounters in Kasur. In Sargodha, 26 individuals died out of 23 police encounters; in Multan, 25 died out of 23 police encounters; in Sahiwal, 24 died out of 16 police encounters; and in Dera Ghazi Khan, 24 died out of 10 police encounters. Furthermore, 24 individuals died in 16 police encounters in Sialkot, 19 died in 16 encounters in Rahim Yar Khan, 19 died in 14 encounters in Khanewal, 19 died in 14 encounters in Pakpattan and 18 died in 15 encounters in Gujarat.

The data continues with 17 deaths out of 13 encounters in Bahawalpur, 17 deaths out of 5 encounters in Mianwali, 16 deaths out of 13 encounters in Hafizabad, 12 deaths in 11 encounters in Chiniot, 12 deaths out of 10 encounters in Lodhran, 11 deaths out of 6 encounters in Attock, and 8 deaths out of 10 encounters in Narowal.

Lower but still notable figures include 9 deaths out of 8 encounters in Muzaffargarh, 8 deaths out of 6 encounters in Nankana Sahib, 7 deaths out of 5 encounters in Rajanpur, 5 deaths out of 3 encounters in Chakwal, 5 deaths out of 3 encounters in Mandi Bahauddin, 4 deaths in 4 encounters in Jhang, 4 deaths in one encounter in Bhakkar, one death in one encounter in Bahawalnagar, and one death out of one encounter in Layyah.