By Saleem Mubarak
It’s not just a bullet that demands an answer—It’s the public’s trust on trial.
You are not going just to read the story of a proclaimed offender—it’s the death of hope that people placed in the new face of the police: the Crime Control Department.
Citizens were under the impression that this department would bring justice, uphold the rule of law, without repeating the dark chapters of the past.
But as bullets flew, the same old script was repeated—dubious encounter, familiar narrative, and no real answers. Is this justice or just another performance?
The Incident and Its Aftermath
A handout issued by the Crime Control Department (CCD) Faisalabad mentioned that on the night of May 1, at around 11:30 PM, CCD Madina Town Division In-charge Ali Ikram, along with his team, set up a checkpoint at Mullanpur Chowk, falling under the jurisdiction of Thikriwala Police Station, to arrest some proclaimed offenders.
Four suspects showed up out of the blue, riding on two motorcycles. As the police flagged them down, instead of complying, the suspects let loose with gunfire, directly targeting the CCD team. The police, caught in the crossfire, had no choice but to return fire. An exchange of fire between the CCD team and the suspects lasted around 15 to 20 minutes, the handout noted.
When the guns fell silent, one suspect was found severely injured, while his three accomplices vanished into thin air by taking advantage of the darkness.
The captured man turned out to be Elahi Bakhsh, son of Sardar, a resident of Ayub Colony, Faisalabad, the handout noted.
Police said that digging into his background uncovered a long criminal record–27 registered cases, including armed robbery, highway robbery, police encounters, and murder.
He had already been marked as a wanted man in a robbery case (1909/23) registered with Thikriwala Police on October 7, 2023.
Further investigation revealed that in 2003, during a police raid, the same suspect had opened fire and martyred Sub-Inspector Ghulam Muhammad (357F) and Constable Noor Khan (C/1962), the CCD said.
To round up the rest of the gang, a special CCD team has been assigned the task of locating the fugitives.
According to the handout, the injured suspect was shifted to the hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. A 30-bore pistol and a Honda 70cc motorcycle were recovered from Elahi Bakhsh. It turned out that the motorcycle had been snatched on April 14 within Gulberg Police Station’s jurisdiction.
Raising Doubts on the Encounter
Raising eyebrows over the incident, Khadim Hussain, a broadcast journalist, told GL News: “ The same old hunters, the same rotten nets — when will the game finally change?”
He said that although it was the first alleged encounter by the CCD in Faisalabad, it sadly came as no surprise. The operation followed the same old song and dance — a staged drama riddled with doubt. It echoed a familiar script that has been picked apart time and again.
The district police had long stuck to their guns in using such tactics to eliminate criminals, it seems the CCD has jumped on the bandwagon by following the same outdated approach.
He said that police claimed one robber succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, while the other three managed to escape. It’s the same script, different cast–played out over and over with the same lines, the same characters and the same ending.
Questions on Transparency and Justice
I just want to ask, ‘The questions are now buzzing in people’s minds: Will the same story be repeated every time? Will the full truth ever come out? Will law enforcement seriously review their policies and procedures?”
It is high time that the custodians of the law rethink their tactics, training systems and principles of transparency. This old story has not only been remembered by the people, but their confidence in the system has also begun to shake.
The Need for Change in Police Tactics
He urged the incumbents of the CCD not to follow procedures that would tarnish their image, as the ‘new face’ of the police can no longer afford this. He said the public needs a strong yet people-friendly police force that comes down hard on criminals legally and treats innocent people with respect.
“Change the procedure… because the curtain on the stage does not fall for long,” he added.
Experts Weigh In on the Issue
Nadeem Abbas, Editor of Jehd E Haq, a monthly human rights journal published by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, speaking to GL News, stated that police encounters are not a solution to the problem.
He explained that police often resort to encounters because they lack capability to conduct fair investigations and collect irrefutable evidence to hold the culprits accountable before the court.
The police seek a quick-fix solution, which is not possible.
One major reason for the prevalence of fake police encounters is that the officers involved in such unlawful actions are never held accountable by authorities.
“In some cases, the police want to appease the mob mentality, which supports summary executions of alleged criminals such as robbers, rapists and terrorists. This, however, highlights a failure in our criminal justice system,” he added.
A police officer, requesting anonymity, said that it is easy to offer criticism from a distance, but no one knows how a situation will unfold at the moment. Just like people watching a match from their couch often scold a cricketer for losing his wicket, it’s easy to judge without being in the field, he said.
He categorically said that there was nothing wrong with the encounter–the CCD team carried out its duty efficiently.
