Failure to protect women

Protecting women is the state's foremost responsibility — and Islamabad's zero-conviction record shows it is failing that duty spectacularly. The latest figures from the capital city reveal a justice system that is neither functioning nor inspiring confidence. In just the first half of 2025, as many as 373 cases of violence against women were reported in Islamabad. Not one ended in conviction.

The Sustainable Social Development Organisation's factsheet confirms this. The most disturbing part is the nature of the crimes. A vast majority of the cases involved rape and kidnapping, yet the outcomes remained unchanged: no convictions and, in many situations, quiet withdrawals. The remaining complaints — physical abuse, harassment, cybercrime and honour killings — were met with the same ineffective response. This failure does not stem from one weak link. It begins at the point of evidence collection and continues through the investigation stage, where procedural lapses routinely undermine the case long before it reaches a courtroom. Survivors struggle with limited protection, often facing pressure or fear that discourages them from pursuing justice. The court process, slow and inconsistent, adds another layer of difficulty.

The complete absence of convictions reflects a loss of trust. When a survivor knows the chances of securing justice are almost nonexistent, the system effectively discourages reporting. Islamabad should be setting the benchmark for justice in the country, yet it has become the clearest example of systemic breakdown.

Reforms must begin with stronger investigative practices and more reliable prosecution, coupled with better support structures for survivors and clearer oversight of how cases progress. Only then can confidence be restored. Women in the capital deserve protection and justice - the basic obligations of any functioning state. Until those obligations are met, Islamabad will remain an example of how far Pakistan has to go in ensuring dignity for half its population.