Punjab Assembly panel flags 'campaign against speaker'

LAHORE: A Punjab Assembly committee on Sunday expressed serious concern over alleged police high-handedness, unresolved complaints against law enforcement and the continued non-establishment of Public Safety Commissions mandated under law, while also taking notice of what it described as a campaign directed at the assembly and the speaker’s office.

The Committee on Law Reforms and Delegated Legislation, chaired by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, reviewed police performance with particular focus on the Crime Control Department amid concerns raised by lawmakers, human rights groups and civil society over alleged misconduct and extrajudicial killings. Inspector General of Police Rao Abdul Kareem, Sheikhupura Regional Police Officer Athar Ismail and Kasur District Police Officer Aftab Phulwarwan attended the meeting. The IGP and the Sheikhupura RPO briefed committee members on crime patterns in Kasur district and across Punjab.

According to a participant, the committee said it was carrying out its constitutional role of parliamentary oversight and was not interfering in police affairs, stressing that elected representatives were responsible for holding public institutions to account. The meeting also took serious notice of what members termed a coordinated media and online campaign against the Punjab Assembly and the Speaker’s Office. Committee members described the campaign as malicious and baseless and said it was aimed at portraying parliamentary oversight as interference in policing.

Action sought over alleged campaign

Members alleged that Kasur DPO Aftab Phulwarwan was the officer at whose direction the campaign was being run and recommended disciplinary proceedings against him. The committee decided to send the matter to the Assembly’s Committee on Privileges for review and possible action under the rules.

Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan recused himself from this part of the proceedings to avoid any perception of conflict of interest, despite requests from members that he remain part of the discussion. The committee then continued its deliberations in his absence.

Complaints over police conduct

Lawmakers also pointed to specific incidents allegedly involving Kasur Police, including violation of the sanctity of a place of worship and shortcomings in the investigation of a sexual violence case. Members said such cases reflected the lack of an effective and systematic accountability mechanism within the police force.

During the session, the committee reviewed letters from human rights organisations and civil society groups as well as complaints submitted by legislators regarding alleged police excesses. It also took notice of allegations documented by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan concerning more than 900 alleged police encounter killings, an issue raised before the United Nations Committee against Torture, of which Pakistan is a state party.

Delay in Public Safety Commissions criticised

The committee also criticised the prolonged delay in forming Public Safety Commissions required under the Police Order 2002, despite an earlier ruling by the speaker issued on Nov 14, 2024. The speaker pressed the government to complete the process without further delay, while officials of the Law Department and Punjab Police said work on constituting the commissions was in progress.

The meeting was attended by Law Minister Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan, MPAs Samiullah Khan, Ali Haider Gilani and Uzma Kardar, Secretary General Chaudhry Amer Habib, Speaker’s Adviser Usama Khawar and Law Secretary Asif Bilal Lodhi. Parliamentary Secretary for Law Khalid Ranjha, Raja Shoukat Bhatti, PTI’s Awais Dareshak and Iftikhar Chachar Zulfiqar Shah were also present.