Senate panel censures judges' victim-blaming

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights expressed grave concern on Thursday over a steep rise in gender-based violence cases in Punjab and denounced weak enforcement of laws, victim-blaming and systemic failures in policing and prosecution.

During the meeting, a representative of the Punjab government briefed the committee on official figures, disclosing that a total of 30,757 gender-based violence cases were reported in the province in 2021, which rose to 35,477 cases in 2022.

The committee was informed that this reflected a 15 per cent increase between 2021 and 2022.

The representative further informed the committee that the total number of GBV cases increased to 46,036 in 2023, which was a 30 per cent rise compared to the previous year. In 2024, the number surged to 61,097 cases, representing a further 33 per cent increase from 2023.

The committee also condemned controversial remarks given by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi in the Noor Mukadam case.

Committee chairperson Senator Sherry Rehman said that such language from a judge was "beyond comprehension". She pointed out that 480 courts were operating across the country and questioned who would ensure implementation once laws were passed.

"We are repeatedly told to legislate, but who will ensure enforcement?" she asked.

She lamented that while courts were issuing verdicts, implementation remained elusive and judicial decisions were often ignored.

Regarding the revelation that despite the passage of domestic violence legislation, the conviction rate stood at a mere 0.5 per cent, Rehman said it was astonishing.

During the meeting, members also referred to the drama serial Case No. 9.

Rehman noted that the drama serial depicted gender-based violence in courts and shed light on the difficulties women face after rape. She deplored the prevalence of victim-blaming, saying women were often blamed instead of being asked about the causes of violence against them.

She cited incidents in Punjab where police personnel had welcomed an accused by beating drums and placing garlands around his neck, and cases where the murder of a girl was justified under the pretext of preserving "honour".

The lawmaker further bemoaned that women were often discouraged from registering complaints. "If it is rape, police tell the victim that she must have done something herself. If it is any other issue, they say it is a family matter," she said.

"If a man does anything, it is acceptable... but if a sister does the same, 'honour' suddenly awakens," she added.

Likewise, Senator Tahir Sandhu drew the committee's attention to a separate case in which Islamabad High Court's (IHC) Justice Azam Khan had ruled that the marriage of a 15-year-old girl was permissible.

He questioned how Justice Azam Khan, who is currently a high court judge and had previously served as a prosecutor in a case involving Rana Sanaullah, was appointed to the bench and on what qualifications.