No convictions in 663 child abuse cases in 2025

Nearly 1,000 suspects nominated; dozens of cases dismissed

FAISALABAD:

Despite hundreds of reported cases of sexual abuse against minors in Faisalabad during 2025, not a single accused in cases registered during the year has been convicted so far, according to official statistics, raising serious concerns about delays in prosecution and delivery of justice.

Data revealed that 663 cases of sexual abuse against minors were registered across 45 police stations in Faisalabad district during 2025.

A total of 989 suspects were found involved in these cases.

However, despite the high number of incidents, none of the accused in cases registered during the year has yet been punished by the courts.

Police records reveal that 131 cases were dismissed on various grounds.

Meanwhile, charge sheets (challans) in 344 cases were submitted to courts, while 154 cases were forwarded to the prosecution branch with incomplete challans. Eighteen cases remain under investigation.

A divisional breakdown shows that Lyallpur Town Division registered 58 cases involving 88 suspects.

Of these, 13 cases were dismissed, 21 challans were submitted and 23 incomplete challans were sent to the prosecution branch.

In Madina Town Division, 152 cases were registered against 203 suspects.

Police dismissed 34 cases, submitted 93 challans and forwarded 15 incomplete challans, while 10 cases are still under investigation.

Iqbal Division reported 159 cases involving 238 suspects.

Of these, 29 cases were dismissed, 91 challans were submitted and 32 incomplete challans were sent to prosecutors.

Two cases remain under investigation.

In Jaranwala Division, 149 cases were registered against 222 suspects.

Police dismissed 33 cases, submitted challans in 69 cases and sent 38 incomplete challans to the prosecution branch.

Three cases are still under investigation.

Similarly, Saddar Division registered 145 cases involving 238 suspects.

Police dismissed 22 cases, submitted 70 challans and forwarded 46 incomplete challans, while three cases remain pending investigation.

The trend has continued into 2026. In January alone, 57 cases of child sexual abuse were reported, implicating 76 suspects.

Of these, two cases were dismissed, 19 challans were submitted and 13 incomplete challans were sent to prosecutors, while 23 cases are still under investigation.

Although no convictions were secured in cases registered during 2025, courts handed down sentences in four cases from previous years.

In one 2025 case registered at D-Type Colony police station, an Additional District and Sessions Judge sentenced an accused, Bilal, to 50 years' imprisonment, imposed a fine of Rs100,000 and ordered him to pay Rs200,000 in compensation to the complainant in a rape case involving a girl.

In other cases from 2024 and 2022, courts awarded sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.

In one rape-and-murder case registered at Raza Abad police station in 2024, the accused was awarded the death penalty along with multiple prison terms and a fine of Rs2 million.