Over 5,700 cases of child sexual abuse reported in Pakistan in last 2 years, NA told

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is witnessing the increase in the cases of child sexual abuse at an alarming rate as over 5, 790 cases were registered across the country in last two years, Ministry of Law and Justice informed the Lower House of the Parliament.

More than 3,891 cases of child sexual abuse were registered in Punjab, 1, 411 in Sindh, 270 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 225 in Islamabad, 199 in Balochistan, 77 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 15 cases were registered in Gilgit-Baltistan, according to details submitted to the National Assembly in response to a question by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Shahida Rehmani.

Stressing upon the need of fresh legislation to counter the increase in the cases of sexual harassment of children, the PPP lawmaker urged the provinces to introduce bills for protection of children as the country was apparently failing to save its children.

Non-governmental organisation ‘Sahil’, had in its report claimed that more than 10,726 cases of child abuse or harassment were reported from all over the country between 2007 and 2011.

‘Justice delayed is justice denied’

Munira* Bibi, 41, whose six year old daughter was sexually abused in Shelly Valley, Rawalpindi last year, is still waiting for justice. “We filed our case a long ago. No one is taking our plea seriously. Justice delayed is justice denied.”

Like the case of Imrana’s daughter, families of more than 5,700 children are knocking doors of courts for justice for past two years.

Expressing her utter shock over the revelation of number of children being sexually harassed in the country, Munira* told The Express Tribune, “I’m not satisfied with this response. I’m shocked over alarming rise in child molestation cases. Tens of thousands such cases go unreported. We need more legislation to cope with this issue.”

Sahil’s report, “Cruel Numbers 2013”, claims that 3,002 children, including 2,017 girls and 985 boys, became victims of sexual abuse or harassment. The organisation, which focuses on child related issues, revealed that around 311 cases had been reported from January to September 30 in 2014, with 214 girls and 97 boys falling prey in Rawalpindi and Islamabad alone.

* Note: Name changed to protect identity