Startling crime rate in Punjab

Punjab has seen a rise in crimes that are particularly gender-based and religiously-motivated

Punjab, of late, has seen rise in crimes that are particularly gender-based and religiously-motivated. The alarming situation, which for years had been simmering beneath the surface, was articulately highlighted by a research project conducted by Pakistan’s premier think tank, the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. During a survey, specifically conducted in five key districts of Pakistan’s most-thickly populated province, namely Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, it was earthshaking to learn that the total number of reported crimes increased by 67% in 2020, as per the statistics quoted by the Punjab Development Statistics in 2021. Likewise, in the year 2021, the Punjab Police confessed that gender and religiously motivated violent crimes against citizens constituted 10% of all reported crimes. Whereas, comparatively in other provinces, the rate of crime has been slower, and often marginal.

The survey studied the prison-inmates’ behaviour, gathered first-hand knowledge of convicted persons, and their version of the crime story. IPRI’s research team focused on crimes in which the use, attempted use, or threat of use of physical force was involved, pertaining to kidnapping, sexual assault and reckless endangerment. Lahore recorded the highest number of rape and domestic violence cases while Faisalabad recorded the highest number of acid-burning cases. The study noted that the high rates of crime in Punjab had a detrimental impact on societal cohesion, economic development, prosperity and safety for citizens.

The gender-based crimes such as rape, the attempt of rape, gang-rape, sodomy and honour killing were studied threadbare, and it was discovered that majority of the victims were women and girls, as well as men and boys. Similarly, religiously-motivated acts pertained to hate speech, murder or attempt to murder over alleged or committed blasphemy. That included mob lynching, immolation and shootings, where individuals were either incarcerated or killed due to violence perpetrated by the mob.

The study noted that most of the inmates were not satisfied with the investigation process, felt that they were unjustly incarcerated and lacked faith in lower judiciary. Juveniles were encouraged to commit honour killings to use their age as an excuse to escape capital punishment. Moreover, 60% of the convicts belonged to economically impoverished backgrounds.

IPRI’s recommendations are worth-pondering for policymakers as they call for amending PPC 1860 through an Act of Parliament; to introduce punishments for all those who commit mob violence; and to do away with leniency due to age granted to the accused involved in religious crimes. It also called for reducing the age of adults from 18 to 16 years, and for equally treating youngsters and adults for strict punishment.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2023.

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