Police brutality

The use of excessive force by police personnel remains a serious concern in Pakistan, where allegations of torture and abuse of authority continue to surface despite laws prohibiting such practices. The custodial death of Akmal Ali Khan, allegedly following an assault by policemen at a check-post in Taxila, calls for immediate accountability. The victim was reportedly beaten following a minor roadside dispute and later declared dead at a hospital. Three police personnel have been booked for murder. Such incidents are grave and must be investigated impartially, with those found responsible subjected to the full force of the law.

The persistence of police brutality reflects serious shortcomings in the country's law enforcement system. The police have long operated within a culture that tolerates coercion and intimidation, particularly when dealing with ordinary citizens who lack the means to challenge abuses of authority. Torture is frequently employed as a method of investigation or punishment, while officers accused of misconduct often escape criminal accountability. This has contributed to public distrust of the police and weakened the institution's ability to perform its fundamental duty of maintaining law and order.

Article 14 of the Constitution expressly prohibits torture for extracting evidence, while the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act, 2022, provides a legal framework for prosecuting such offences. However, the implementation of these protections remains inadequate. FIA, which is empowered to investigate torture and custodial death cases, must be provided with the institutional independence necessary to fulfil its mandate. Investigations must be transparent and proceedings must be concluded without unnecessary delays. Departmental suspensions and transfers cannot be permitted to replace criminal prosecution. There is also an urgent need to strengthen the police system through comprehensive institutional reforms.