A PETITION was filed not too long ago in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking judicial inquiry into the alleged fake police encounters in Punjab by the Crimes Control Department (CCD). The provincial information minister has claimed that the crime rate has come down by 60 per cent since the formation of CCD more than two months ago. These encounters are reportedly taking place on almost a daily basis throughout the province. And to date over 250 alleged hardened criminals have been taken out and counting.

Such actions certainly do not present a soft image of the country. On the contrary, they show lack of respect for human rights and the failure of the judiciary in upholding human values. When those entrusted with protecting citizens become perpetrators of violence, it signals a deep erosion of accountability, human rights and the rule of law. Apathy or silence of the educated sections of society, including media, further enables these acts.

Even the published reports via the department`s handouts are full of errors.

Each carries the same story line of police shooting in response to firing from thecriminals. And, when the firing ends, no policeman `is found harmed`, and the criminal invariably dies `at the hands of his accomplices`.

In many societies with weak democratic institutions, custodialdeaths are often hushed up, with the victims being labelled as aggressors or criminals.

Such actions are a mirror to a society`s value system, governance standards and the sanctity it accords to human dignity.

A civilised and just society cannot afford to ignore the message these deaths convey.

Fawad Hashmey Lahore