Grave rights violations: Lack of justice blamed for rise in violence against women

Women recount their ordeal at a discussion organised at the press club

PESHAWAR: Women victims of violence have urged the government and police to help them get justice and demanded strict penalties against those committing grave violations of rights.

They blamed the uptick in violence against women in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on the lack of an effective justice system.

These views were expressed by women during a discussion: “Eight March, eight women and eight stories” organised at the press club on Wednesday by the Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network to commemorate the International Women’s Day.

Recounting her ordeal, lady health worker Asmat Ara said she was gang-raped by people wearing police uniforms and despite repeated visits to the relevant police station she could not get justice.

A family member of Uzma Begum from Nowshera, who was burnt alive by her husband and in-laws, complained that even her murder FIR had not been registered yet despite repeated protests.

Halima Bibi said she was shot at and injured by her husband in 2014 and again in 2017 but she failed to get justice. “I feel insecure under such circumstances,” she remarked.

Nadia, a 12-year-old girl who became a victim of incest four years ago and was gang-raped a year later, said she suffered commercial and sexual exploitation as a result. The whole society, according to her, had failed to give her justice.

Despite court orders, Attiya Bibi has failed to take custody of her children and police have refused to extend her any support in this regard. “I spend hours going from one office to another for help daily [but to no avail].”

Sana, a dancer from Lahore, said she had moved to Peshawar and had been earning her livelihood there. But since then she has been receiving death threats from some people. They have asked for a share in her income.

The sister of Hina Shahnawaz, who fell victim to the so-called honour killing, told the story of how her sister was shot dead by her own brother in Kohat.

“There is a need for strict legal action against the violators of human rights,” said Taimur Kamal, coordinator for the Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network, who organised the event.

According the data available with The Express Tribune, a total of 583 cases of violence against women were reported in 2016.

However, human rights activists fear the number of cases is much higher than that reported by police.

Police say that they have completed investigations into 477 cases and submitted challans in the relevant courts.

Of these 40 cases of honour killing were filed during the year, 139 (gang-rape), 187 (murder) and 104 cases involved physical violence and harassment at the workplace.

Police data shows that at least 12 cases of murder, eight attempted murder and two cases of physical violence have yet to be solved.

Zar Ali Khan, a human rights activist, said: “A great deal of work is to be done to ensure equal rights in all aspects of life.”

He criticised public and private organisations for celebrating the International Women’s Day in luxury hotels and urged them to take pragmatic steps for the protection of women and ensure female education.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2017.