For decades, the rule of law in Pakistan remained uncertain, particularly in Punjab where gangs, mafias, and armed groups often acted as if they were untouchable. People grew accustomed to a grim reality in which criminals inspired more fear than the state itself. For the first time in Pakistan’s history, that perception is changing. The Counter Crime Department (CCD) Punjab, led by Additional IG Sohail Zafar Chatha, has shifted the balance of fear. Now it is the criminals who tremble, beg for forgiveness, and openly admit that they can no longer defy the law.
This transformation is not accidental. It is the outcome of a clear shift in policy and leadership. Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, by extending her full political support to CCD, has allowed the department to function with unprecedented independence. In the past, law enforcement agencies were often restrained by political compromises. Today, the Punjab government has given the police both the mandate and the confidence to enforce the law without hesitation. Her vision is unambiguous: the writ of the state must prevail, regardless of who stands against it.
A new policing model that blends enforcement with narrative control is reshaping Punjab’s fight against crime.
Sohail Zafar Chatha has brought this vision to life. Known for his firm professionalism, he has dismantled the aura that criminals once enjoyed. For years, gangs thrived not only through weapons but through psychological warfare. They projected themselves as untouchable, flaunted money, and in recent times, turned to social media to build a cult following. By posting videos with weapons, cash, and threats, they promoted a dangerous culture of digital terrorism that glorified lawlessness and influenced vulnerable youth.
It is here that CCD Punjab has made the most impact. Those self-styled “warriors” of TikTok who tried to normalize violence have been systematically silenced. Individuals who once posed with pistols in flashy videos are now either behind bars or publicly apologizing. Their propaganda has collapsed under the weight of a state that finally takes such threats seriously. This development marks the beginning of a new era where online show-offs are treated as genuine criminals, not as entertainers.
From a digital media perspective, this is more than enforcement. It is narrative control. Every arrest, every public apology, and every effort to dismantle gang propaganda is content that reshapes public opinion. For decades, criminals dominated the communication space by portraying themselves as invincible. Today, that narrative has been turned upside down. CCD Punjab is not only dismantling gangs in the streets, it is dismantling their brand online, and that has proven just as effective as any raid.
The effect is as psychological as it is operational. For years, citizens believed the law was powerless against criminals backed by money or influence. Today, that belief is fading. When people witness hardened criminals surrendering, or young men who once boasted of their guns now asking for forgiveness, they understand that the state has reclaimed its authority. Citizens are regaining trust in the police because results are visible and undeniable.
This shift also carries global significance. Around the world, from Mexico to Brazil, criminal groups use social media to glorify themselves and recruit followers. Punjab’s CCD has demonstrated that such propaganda can be dismantled with the right mix of enforcement and communication. This positions Punjab not only as a national success story but also as an example for other regions dealing with similar challenges.
Chatha’s approach is distinctive because he recognizes that crime is not only fought through raids and arrests. It is also fought through narratives. By targeting both the physical presence of gangs and the online spaces that celebrated them, he has eliminated the very platforms where they thrived. This dual strategy has been nothing short of transformative.
None of this would have been possible without political will. Maryam Nawaz deserves credit for standing firmly behind CCD’s initiatives. Unlike in the past, when political interference often weakened policing, her government has given officers assurance that the law will be upheld by the state rather than compromised by it. This cooperation between government and law enforcement is the greatest strength of Punjab’s current approach.
The results speak for themselves. Punjab today is witnessing a reality where mafias, street criminals, and digital propagandists alike are learning that no one is beyond accountability. The fear criminals once relied on has now been turned against them. For the first time in years, ordinary citizens feel that the state is truly on their side.
This transformation is not merely about crime control. It is a significant act of governance. It restores the social contract between the state and the people. It tells citizens that their security is not a favor granted by gangs, but a right guaranteed by the government. Other provinces should view CCD Punjab as a model. The fight against crime can no longer be limited to chasing dacoits in fields or conducting raids in alleys. It must also include dismantling the toxic online culture that romanticizes criminality. CCD has proven that this approach works, and the results are encouraging. The challenge now is to institutionalize this media-aware enforcement so that it becomes Punjab’s permanent identity in the fight against crime.
To sustain and expand this success, Punjab’s government and CCD should institutionalize digital monitoring to track online criminal activity in real time, engage local communities and youth to discourage glorification of crime, and maintain transparent reporting to reinforce accountability and public trust. Officers should receive specialized training in cybercrime and digital evidence to neutralize both physical and online threats efficiently. Sharing Punjab’s model with other provinces can create a nationwide network against criminal networks and digital propaganda, while a long-term strategic plan will ensure that the province’s approach to crime prevention and digital deterrence remains effective and enduring.
History will record that under the political leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the operational brilliance of Sohail Zafar Chatha, Punjab turned the tide. It will recall that for the first time, criminals did not inspire fear, they felt it. And it will mark that a government and its law enforcement came together to establish a simple truth: in Punjab, the law is supreme.
The writer is a digital media & PR Expert and can be reached at eyabahmad @gmail.com