The government should do its best to oversee legislation that cuts at the root of such crimes against women.
KARACHI: This is apropos the news story published in The Express Tribune “Four women reported gang raped in Punjab” (June 15). The trend of gang rape in the country is a new challenge for the state.
The atrocities committed by men against women often go unchecked and consequently, the criminals walk scot-free after their horrifying deeds. The state’s attitude, apart from social reasons, is primarily responsible for atrocities against women. The core problem lies in the faulty and decades-old criminal law code and the jirga system which allows parties to settle disputes outside the courts. However, amendments are required to make the state a party in these affairs with minimum punishments for the culprits and abettors. A minimum of 10 years’ punishment along with a heavy penalty should be fixed to make the country safe and secure from human rights abuses, especially against women. Meanwhile, people should be educated and made aware regarding the equality of both genders in the light of religious injunctions.
The government should do its best to oversee legislation that cuts at the root of such crimes against women. For a very long time, such practices are being regularly reported in the media, complete with complaints at police stations, but no heed is being paid by the authorities.
Naeem ur Rehman Jalbani
Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2014.
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