Playing Judge and Jury Behind Closed Doors?

EXCLUSIVE

Key Points

Suspects across Punjab are being killed or crippled in police encounters without any trial, while the powerful remain beyond the reach of the law.
The Multan contractor and Islamabad suspect Nauman were killed in alleged encounters, but suspects who are part of the system face no action at all.
The writer argues for summary trials with fixed time limits instead of encounter killings, so that real justice, not the rule of strong men, prevails.

No sensible person can ever support letting criminals go unpunished. But look at how people are being punished in our country, especially in Punjab, just for being suspected of crimes.

Sometimes a person is injured, his bones are broken and he is left crippled. Sometimes a person is sent straight to the next world.

This should never be acceptable in a healthy society.

By doing this, you are trying to wipe out wrong with another wrong. In other words, you are trying to wash away blood with blood.

A very sad event took place recently in Multan. A contractor hit an orphan boy with his car and killed him.

Along with that, a girl named Laiba Ijaz died by suicide in Islamabad because of fraud committed against her. The alleged suspect in that case was Nauman.

Both of these suspects were killed in alleged police encounters.

Faisalabad Police Encounter Leaves Three Suspects Injured

There is no doubt that people who play with human lives and put others at risk must face the iron grip of the law. But right now, we see that powerful individuals, not the iron grip of the law, are deciding who gets what punishment and who deserves what penalty.

It is truly sad that recently, the child of a powerful political figure was found to be involved in serious crimes against foreign women. At that time, the CIA police faced heavy criticism because they could not do anything against those suspects.

And indeed, the CIA could do nothing to them. Why?

Because those people were inside the system and they were the system themselves.

But when people are not inside the system and are not the system themselves, their end looks just like what happened to Nauman in Laiba Ijaz’s case, or what happened to the contractor who killed the boy in Multan.

We absolutely do not support letting suspects go without punishment. But it is completely wrong to make decisions based on your personal likes and dislikes.

If someone is part of the system or is the system, the law acts like a spiderweb for them. But if someone is outside the system, or is not part of it, every single harsh section of the law is thrown at them.

Senior journalist Ehtisham-ul-Haq wrote on his social media wall:

“First, suspects who killed people during robbery resistance were killed in police encounters. Slowly, this became normal.

Then, suspects of rape and assault were killed in encounters. This also became normal.

After that, people who caused a death or a fatal accident were also killed in police encounters. And this became normal too.

Where will this normalization stop?

Has the judicial system been left only to hear property fights that run for years, or divorce cases?

What message do the government and state institutions send to an ordinary citizen when they show no trust in the courts?

If the courts are not working properly, why do they not fix them?”

When you try to run a society by the rule of strong men instead of the rule of law, future generations will never grow up with free minds and independent thoughts.

If you believe the courts are not working properly, who is supposed to fix them? If you can pass amendments in the country to create two courts, why can you not set up special courts for summary trials?

Remember, special courts were created in the past to separate terrorism cases and deliver quick verdicts.

If we truly love justice, or if the people in power really want justice to win in this country, they should make proper laws. They should set up summary trials for suspects involved in serious crimes.

People often say that cases drag on in courts for many years and justice is never served. But whose fault is that?

If you have the power to decide that a suspect deserves to be killed in a police encounter, or that a suspect deserves to be “half-fried” and have their bones broken, then you can also make another choice. You can decide to hold summary trials against them.

You can give a time limit of one month or two months for these fast trials.

In this way, real justice will win across the country. Also, the people who are drunk on power, the members of death squads and the trigger-happy officers who scare people to fill their own pockets and play with human lives will not be able to grow in our society.

We may clap for ourselves for a short moment right now. But this practice does not support our judicial system at all.

CM Punjab Gives Police Four Weeks to Improve Law and Order

Setting up a death squad to kill whichever suspect you want in an encounter and letting go of whoever you want—is this how countries and societies are run?

People are celebrating and supporting the killing of the contractor in Multan and the suspect in Laiba’s suicide in Islamabad. But those people do not understand how deep into the darkness we are sinking as a nation.

Author Profile

Saleem Mubarak: Saleem Mubarak is an investigative journalist, passionate writer, and keen observer of everyday life. His work combines humor, realism, and social insight to bring everyday stories to life with depth and clarity.

With a distinctive storytelling style, he brings ordinary moments to life through sharp wit and thoughtful commentary.

His writing often explores cultural trends, civic issues, and human behavior, engaging readers with both intellect and emotion.

Whether tackling serious topics or adding a touch of satire, Saleem’s words reflect his deep understanding of society and his commitment to meaningful expression.