Punjab Police Deaths: 900 in Eight Months Suggest Systemic Problem

A February 2026 human rights assessment documented 900 deaths by Punjab police over eight months—a rate indicating systemic tolerance for lethal force during operations. The shooting death of nine-year-old Australian Hania Ahmed this week, initially blamed on mistaken identity, reflects an established pattern. The findings raise urgent questions about rules of engagement and enforcement practices across Pakistan's largest province.