A sensational case of Sheikhupura, which came to light from Punjab province of Pakistan, has raised serious questions on the justice system of the country and the immunity given to police officers. The Human Rights Commission (HRCP) has taken up this matter vigorously, highlighting serious shortcomings and administrative failure in Pakistan's anti-torture laws. The case dates back to 2023, when authorities finally admitted that two people, who were reported missing by their families for a long time, were killed in a police “encounter” in Sheikhupura and quietly buried without informing their families.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), through a series of posts on social media platforms, has described this entire episode as a big slap on the accountability system of the country. The shocking thing is that this case named Suraiya Bibi vs Regional Police Officer Sheikhupura was presented by the Government of Pakistan itself before the United Nations (UN) as its progress in curbing custodial abuse. However, the human rights organization argues that the facts of this case expose the country's hollow justice system and serious shortcomings in the system.
Complainant Suraiya Bibi had approached the Lahore High Court in the year 2023 and sought information about her missing brother-in-law and nephew, who were allegedly taken into police custody. During lengthy legal proceedings the police admitted that both the men had been killed in an alleged encounter three months earlier. Pakistani law requires every encounter death to be investigated promptly and impartially, and cases of custodial torture must be handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). But no prescribed legal procedure was followed in this case.
Even though more than two years have passed since the incident, no concrete investigation has been completed, no formal prosecution has been initiated, and no guilty official has been held accountable. HRCP claims that since the implementation of Pakistan's Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act in 2022, not a single officer has been punished in any FIA investigation under this law. This case clearly shows that despite legal security measures, fake encounters and police arbitrariness continue unabated in Pakistan.
