Pakistan: The human rights groups have expressed their concerns over the rise in the incidents of
gender based violence and child abuse in the country, and the lack of action on the part of government
institutions to protect girls and children against sexual violence. The participants of the consultative
meeting followed by protest demonstration demanded justice for the rape survivors and victims of the
child and forced marriage.
They referred to a case wherein Muhammad Asif allegedly abducted a 16-years-old Christian girl, Kiran
from a college in Okara and took her to Faisalabad on 7 th January. The culprit raped her leaving her in an
unconscious condition in front of her house the next day. They noted that a case under Section 365-B of
Pakistan Penal Code has been registered, and the main culprit has been arrested from Faisalabad.
However, the police needs to include the section 376 of the PPC in the FIR, as the DHQ hospital Okara
has issued medical report that confirmed the rape.
A human rights activist, Ashiknaz Khokhar said that the family of the rape survivor is receiving threats to
stop pursuing the case. He observed that the sexual predators find the minority girls soft target for lack
of action by the government bodies to protect minorities from violence in the past, therefore,
government must make efforts to improve minorities access to justice, and ensure that the citizens are
treated fairly at the investigative, prosecutorial and judicial levels.
The chairman of Voice for Justice, Joseph Jansen lamented that the victim, not the culprit, is blamed for
rape in the country, and the culture of impunity for perpetrators is prevalent, as they mostly benefit
from the law and justice system on account of partial investigation and backing by influential elements.
This leads to encouraging a culture that prevents the family of a victim from reporting incidents of
gender based violence. He observed that the lack of convictions of rapists brings the role of law
enforcement agencies under question, and reinforces an impression that they lack capacity and will to
remedying human rights violations against women and religious minorities.
Asif Bastian said that the perpetrators are not afraid of committing violence against vulnerable women
and minorities, as they manipulate the legal procedures and get away with their crimes for their support
in the influential circles. She said that it is a failure of our law enforcement as well as the prevailing
culture of impunity that makes women more insecure. The government needs to make efforts to ensure
that the perpetrators do not enjoy the impunity, and they are brought to justice for the respect of rule
of law in the country.
A women’s rights activist, Carol Noreen said that the rape survivors go through trauma, so adequate
medical and psycho-social services must be put in place to help them recover from their condition, and
they are provided with adequate opportunities to enable them lead a dignified life. The government
needs to address the rape in Pakistan by investing in efforts for a more informed understanding of
sexual violence and addressing obscurant societal attitudes towards rape victims, and reinforce the
notion that “it is the accused who is on trial and not the victim”.