On February 17, 2026, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reiterated its call for a high-level judicial inquiry into the Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) following alarming allegations of extrajudicial killings through staged police encounters. The HRCP's fact-finding report, published from Lahore, revealed that the CCD had allegedly adopted a systematic approach to violence, with at least 670 encounters resulting in the deaths of 924 suspects in just the first eight months of 2025. This staggering figure underscores a troubling trend, as only two police officials were reported killed during the same timeframe. HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt emphasized the urgent need for accountability, stating, "The CCD’s actions are inconsistent with the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials," which dictate that lethal force should only be employed when strictly unavoidable.