Police in Pakistan illegally excute hundreds of people each year in staged "encounter killings", a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims.
Several police officers admitted to HRW they justified killing suspects by reporting the "encounter" as an act of self-defence or means of preventing them from fleeing arrest or escaping custody.
The group said it was concerned "many, if not most" of the 2,115 people killed in apparently armed encounters in 2015 with the police "were faked and did not occur in situations in which lives were at risk".
"Such killings may be carried out because of pressure from higher command or local elites, or because the police are not able to gather enough evidence to ensure convictions" the report said.
The report adds: "Police are rarely held accountable for these killings and families of victims are deterred from filing complaints against police out of fear of harassment or being accused of false charges."
In addition to extrajudicial killings, reports say the police frequently torture suspects to obtain confessions, making them "one of the most feared, complained against and least trusted government institutions in Pakistan".
One senior office told the researchers: "As far as they are concerned, encounters are the perfect way of getting rid of hardened criminals.
"They do not consider it a gross violation of human rights and instead see it as an effective way of delivering justice."
Some police officers said they only kill criminals because of the country's inefficient criminal justice system, regarding it as a way to ensure a known criminal does not escape justice due to lack of evidence and witnesses.
In general, they only kill habitual offenders and criminals who have committed heinous crimes such as rape, armed [banditry], multiple murders, kidnapping," one officer told HRW researchers.
The report also found that police in Pakistan frequently use torture against people in custody.
One officer said: "We have different techniques: we keep them awake for a couple of days, we slap them around, we use [strips of leather commonly used for beatings]. The technique depends on the situation. "
The report calls for the police to address issues of extrajudicial killings, torture and bribery and suggests it creates a mechanism for increased accountability in order to "transform the police from a repressive institution into a service that impartially protects life and property."
Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW, said: “Law enforcement has been left to a police force filled with disgruntled, corrupt and tired officers.
“Police should have the resources, training, equipment, and encouragement to act professionally instead of leaving Pakistanis to rely on favours and bribes to seek justice.”
