Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Hina Parvez Butt has faced criticism after describing the deaths of two criminal suspects in separate police-related incidents as justice, prompting renewed debate over alleged extrajudicial killings, police accountability and the right to a fair trial.
The controversy intensified after Butt shared a report about Tauqeer Nazir, who was accused of running over and killing 15-year-old Waseem Abbas in Multan. Police said Nazir was later killed near Bahawalpur in an alleged encounter after escaping custody.
In a now-deleted post on X, Butt praised the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, writing, “This is Maryam Nawaz’s government, where justice is delivered immediately.”
Her remarks drew criticism from journalists, lawyers and social media users, who questioned how the death of an accused person before a court verdict could be described as justice.
Two Cases Raise Questions About Due Process
Butt also attracted attention for an earlier post concerning Muhammad Noman, who was accused of defrauding university student Laiba Ejaz. After reports of Noman’s death during an incident involving an Islamabad police team, Butt wrote, “Alhamdulillah, Laiba has received justice.”
According to the police account reported in the case, Noman was killed after armed men allegedly opened fire on a police team transporting him. Police said he was struck by bullets during the incident.
The Islamabad Police official website confirms that the force’s CIA team had been involved in the investigation and arrest in the Laiba Ejaz case. However, that October 12 statement concerns the earlier arrest and does not independently establish the circumstances of Noman’s subsequent death.
In the Multan case, police said Nazir escaped custody before being killed in an alleged exchange of fire near Bahawalpur. The circumstances surrounding his reported escape and death have prompted questions about how he came to be outside police custody and whether the incident was independently investigated.
The allegations against both men involved serious cases. However, an accusation is not a conviction, and a suspect’s death does not replace the judicial process needed to establish guilt.
HRCP Highlights Concerns Over Alleged Extrajudicial Killings
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has previously raised concerns about deaths during operations conducted by Punjab’s Crime Control Department (CCD).
In its official press release dated February 17, 2026, the organisation called for a high-level judicial inquiry into deaths resulting from CCD operations. Its fact-finding report recommended independent oversight and investigations into encounter-related deaths.
The HRCP argued that lethal force must be subject to legal safeguards and that criminal suspects should not be denied investigation, prosecution and judicial accountability.
The organisation’s earlier report provides context for the current controversy. It should not, however, be treated as a final finding about the specific circumstances of Nazir’s or Noman’s death.
The central issue is whether the incidents were handled in accordance with the law. Independent investigations can help establish the sequence of events, assess the use of force and determine whether police procedures were followed.
Punjab Government Rejects Claims of Ordered Encounters
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari responded to Butt’s remarks by saying the lawmaker’s social media posts had previously caused embarrassment for both herself and the government.
Bokhari also rejected claims that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had ordered police encounters. Her response sought to separate the government’s position from the interpretation placed on the incidents by the lawmaker.
No independently verified official statement directly addressing all the circumstances of the two deaths was identified for this article. The minister’s reported remarks should therefore be distinguished from a formal investigation finding.
The controversy highlights the responsibility of public representatives to distinguish between demands for swift action against crime and the legal process required to establish guilt.
Authorities can pursue serious criminal allegations while ensuring that suspects receive lawful treatment and that deaths during police operations are investigated transparently.
Ultimately, justice requires evidence, accountability and lawful proceedings. The circumstances surrounding both deaths need to be established through credible investigations rather than political commentary alone.
