Justice eludes women in Islamabad
Rights minister says steps are being taken to curb violence against women. STOCK PHOTO
Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) has released its latest factsheet on Violence Against Women (VAW) in Islamabad, covering the period from January to June 2025.
The data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) from the Police Department, presents a grim picture of women's safety in the capital. A total of 373 cases of violence against women were reported during this six-month period yet not a single conviction was recorded across all categories.
Out of the total cases 309 cases were registered under the combined category of rape and kidnapping, making up around 83 per cent of all incidents. Despite this high number, zero convictions were recorded, with many cases withdrawn before conclusion. Physical abuse accounted for 42 cases (11 per cent) with no convictions achieved to date. Harassment comprised 17 cases, cybercrime accounted for 3 cases and 2 cases of honour killing were also reported, all resulting in no convictions.
The findings of the factsheet reveal deep systemic gaps in the investigation and prosecution process cases of violence against women. The complete absence of convictions, despite hundreds of reported incidents, underscores serious flaws in evidence handling, victim protection and judicial efficiency.
SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas expressed grave concern over the findings, stating that "It is alarming that despite hundreds of cases being reported, not a single conviction has been achieved in Islamabad. This clearly reflects systemic weaknesses that deny justice to survivors. We urge the police, prosecution and judiciary to take coordinated and urgent action to ensure accountability and restore public trust in the justice system."
SSDO calls upon law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities to strengthen investigation procedures, expedite trials and improve survivor support mechanisms. The organisation emphasises the need for coordinated efforts to close the justice gap and ensure that cases of violence against women are resolved with accountability and fairness.
On the other hand, a new study by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has called for urgent, gender-sensitive reforms in Pakistan's criminal justice system, arguing that existing structures fail to recognise the deeply gendered realities that shape women's experiences of crime and punishment.
The Knowledge Brief, titled "Gendered Pathways to Crime," has been authored by Dr Fida Muhammad Khan, Assistant Professor at PIDE, and Zainab Fatima, Researcher at the Women Aid Trust. The study challenges the long-held assumption that men and women engage in criminal behaviour under similar circumstances, asserting instead that gender, social expectations and structural inequalities create profoundly different pathways to offending.