The disturbing video of a young man subjected to severe police torture is yet another deeply troubling coming from Punjab.
It comes amid a wider pattern of serious concerns over police conduct. A recent case in Lahore involved a young man tortured inside a police station; the SHO and other officers were suspended after video of the incident surfaced. Human Rights Watch has also called for an independent investigation into deaths in Lahore police custody, while HRCP has raised serious concerns over custodial deaths and police accountability.
Meanwhile, political workers have also faced arrests, raids and restrictions amid the ongoing political movement.
When force, intimidation, custodial abuse and suppression of dissent begin appearing as recurring features of governance, critics are justified in questioning whether Punjab is developing a culture of fascistic repression.
It is about the rule of law, human dignity and the right of every citizen to be treated with humanity.
Power cannot become a licence for brutality.