Sher Afzal Marwat Questions Police Powers, Calls for Independent Probe into Alleged Extrajudicial Killings
ISLAMABAD:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker and lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat has questioned the legality of alleged extrajudicial killings and police-led acts of retribution, arguing that investigations, verdicts and punishments must remain separate under the rule of law.
In a statement posted on X, Marwat challenged those applauding what he described as displays of “instant justice,” asking whether police in any civilised society should have the authority to investigate, decide guilt and impose punishment.
Referring to operations conducted by the Crime Control Department (CCD), Marwat questioned how many people had been killed during the operations, how many cases had undergone independent investigations and which courts had determined that those killed were guilty and deserved capital punishment.
“When did a police allegation become a substitute for a court verdict?” he asked.
### Marwat Questions Police Conduct in Petrol Pump Incident
Commenting on videos reportedly showing an incident at a petrol pump, Marwat said that if the events had unfolded in the sequence being described, the person who initially assaulted a worker should be held accountable.
However, he questioned the legality of allowing the same worker to retaliate against the alleged assailant in the presence of police officers.
He argued that facilitating retaliation in front of cameras could not be considered justice and instead amounted to a misuse of state authority.
“The response to an initial act of violence should be a case and legal proceedings, not another act of violence,” Marwat said.
### Cites Constitutional Protections
Marwat referred to Articles 9, 10A and 14 of Pakistan’s Constitution, which respectively protect life and liberty, guarantee the right to a fair trial and due process, and safeguard human dignity.
He maintained that these fundamental rights did not depend on police discretion or public approval.
According to Marwat, delays in the judicial system should be addressed through reforms to the courts rather than by turning police stations into courts or allowing police officers to act as executioners.
### Calls for Independent Investigations
The PTI lawmaker called for independent judicial investigations into every alleged extrajudicial killing and demanded accountability for those found responsible.
He stressed that the legitimacy of justice depended not on how quickly punishment was delivered, but on the fairness and integrity of the process through which a decision was reached.
Marwat also warned that unchecked state powers could eventually undermine the rights of those who currently support such measures, including their own right to a fair hearing.
His remarks have brought renewed attention to questions surrounding police accountability, alleged extrajudicial killings and the constitutional safeguards governing criminal investigations and punishment in Pakistan.
