Punjab to launch CCD unit for sex crimes

Police move to tackle delays as rape cases soar

LAHORE:

Punjab Police is preparing to set up a specialised sexual offences investigation unit within the Crime Control Department (CCD) to address delays in investigations and arrests amid a sharp rise in reported cases across the province.

Police sources said the CCD has completed a province-wide review of existing investigation units and compiled a detailed database of sexual assault cases, including those in which suspects are still at large.

Internal assessments revealed that a large number of cases had stalled due to weak coordination, lack of specialised training and delays in forensic and technical procedures. Under the proposed system, all rape and sexual violence cases, along with the arrest of nominated suspects, will be handled by a dedicated CCD-led unit. The unit will rely on modern investigative tools, improved data analysis and a centralised command structure to closely monitor each case from registration to arrest.

Official figures show that 13,820 sexual assault cases were registered across Punjab last year. Lahore recorded the highest number with 1,576 reported incidents involving women and children, followed by Faisalabad with 945 cases, Gujranwala with 789 and Khanewal with 724.

Senior police officials admit that despite the high number of reported cases, many investigations have failed to result in timely arrests, eroding public trust and prolonging the suffering of survivors. "The new mechanism is aimed at removing procedural bottlenecks and fixing responsibility at every stage," a senior officer said, adding that the CCD unit will coordinate closely with district police, forensic agencies and prosecutors to ensure faster and more effective action.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, soon after assuming office, repeatedly announced a zero-tolerance policy against sexual offences, particularly those involving women and children. In a series of high-level meetings with senior law-enforcement officials, she called for swift, transparent and uncompromising action to ensure justice for victims and to deter offenders.

Despite these policy declarations, however, the overall number of reported sexual violence cases has not shown any meaningful decline, pointing to structural weaknesses that extend beyond political resolve.

Even when first information reports (FIRs) are lodged, many investigations suffer from weak evidence collection, delayed forensic analysis and poor coordination with prosecutors, resulting in low conviction rates.

Recent statistics illustrate the problem: while thousands of sexual assault cases are registered across Punjab every year, only a fraction lead to the submission of prosecution challans, and even fewer result in convictions. This gap has reinforced public frustration and undermined confidence in the criminal justice system.