ISLAMABAD, Feb 28 (APP):National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) expresses its profound grief and unequivocal condemnation of the brutal murder of Dr. Mehwish, a dedicated medical professional whose life was taken in an act of senseless violence.
We extend our deepest condolences to her family, colleagues, and the wider medical community mourning this tragic loss, said Chairperson NCSW Ume Laila Azhar in a Press release issued here on Saturday.
This horrific killing is not an isolated incident. It reflects a deeply troubling and persistent surge in femicide and gender-based violence across Pakistan. Women, whether in their homes, workplaces, or public spaces, continue to face life-threatening risks simply for existing with autonomy and dignity.
The murder of women professionals, including doctors, teachers, and journalists, signals a grave failure to ensure women’s safety and security.
Chairperson Ume Laila Azhar stated:
“Dr Mehwish’s murder is a devastating reminder that women in Pakistan remain unsafe even while serving society in the noblest of professions. Femicide is not merely a crime; it is the most extreme manifestation of systemic gender inequality and impunity. We cannot normalize this violence. The State must act decisively to prevent further loss of women’s lives.”
The Commission calls upon:
Law enforcement authorities are to conduct a swift, transparent, and gender-sensitive investigation, ensuring the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
The provincial and federal governments should publicly recognize femicide as a distinct and urgent human rights crisis requiring coordinated policy intervention.
Relevant institutions should strengthen protection mechanisms for women professionals, including improved workplace and transit security measures.
Parliament and policymakers should ensure the effective implementation of existing laws on violence against women and address gaps that enable impunity.
NCSW further urges the development of a national database on femicide cases, stronger monitoring mechanisms, and public awareness campaigns to challenge harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women.
The Commission reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting women’s constitutional rights to life, dignity, equality, and security. We stand in solidarity with Dr Mehwish’s family and with every woman whose life has been cut short by gender-based violence.
Silence is complicity. Justice must not only be done, but it must be seen to be done.