Caught on tape: In Punjab, even before you get your day in court, these cops will make sure you go viral 

A recent report by Dawn News has found that many police stations in Punjab recorded videos of  suspects and posted them onto social media; an act which strictly violates constitutional rights and is illegal. 

In 2020, Punjab Police issued a policy for the use of social media by its officers. “No police personnel shall share anything in violation of the legal provisions dictating the anonymity of arrested accused, anonymity of police personnel involved in a police operation or investigation and confidentiality of investigations,” the policy states. 

But despite such clear guidelines, videos of suspects, where their faces are clearly visible, are recorded in police stations across Punjab and posted online. 

According to Dawn’s analysis, these videos are not posted to official social media accounts run by the police, and are instead often uploaded by anonymous accounts, local crime reporters and small news outlets. 

Lawyers and crime reporters who closely work with the police, have reported that these videos are recorded by police officers and then disseminated for personal projection. By sharing such sensitive and vulnerable videos, the police wants to “showcase their performance and garner public support for their actions.” 

Since 2021, Dawn has found over 50 such videos posted to multiple TikTok and Facebook from police stations across the province, including Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Lahore, Nakana Sahib and Sargodha, all of which prominently feature local police officers alongside suspects. 

Advocate Vishal Ahmed Shakir said that recording and posting such videos is a clear violation of Article 14 of the Constitution which states that the dignity of a person is inviolable.