Sherry Rehman voices grave concern over escalating gender-based violence and alarming conviction rates

ISLAMABAD, Nov 27 (APP): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Vice President and Senator Sherry Rehman has expressed profound alarm over the sharp rise in gender-based violence (GBV) across Pakistan during 2024. She described the situation as a severe indictment of the country’s justice system.
Senator Rehman disclosed that 32,617 cases of gender-based violence were reported nationwide in 2024. These included:
5,339 rape cases,24,439 abductions,2,238 domestic violence incidents
,547 honour killings.
Addressing a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, she emphasized that the conviction rates across these categories are “shockingly low,” noting that the conviction rate for rape and honour killings is merely 0.5 percent, which she said “reflects the collapse of the justice system.” Convictions in abduction cases stood at 0.1 percent, while domestic violence cases saw a conviction rate of just 1.3 percent.
According to the averages cited, Pakistan is witnessing 67 abductions, 19 rapes, 6 domestic violence cases, and 2 honour killings every day.
Provincial and Regional Overview
Senator Rehman reported 26,753 cases of gender-based violence in Punjab. Of the 225 honour killings, only two convictions were recorded. Among 4,641 rape cases, the conviction rate was 0.4 percent, while only 16 convictions were secured out of 20,720 abduction cases.
The province recorded 3,397 GBV cases, including 134 honour killings, with only twoSherry Rehman convictions. Out of 258 rape cases, there was one conviction, and 943 abduction cases similarly resulted in just one conviction. Notably, no convictions were recorded in 446 domestic violence cases.
Sindh reported 1,781 cases of gender-based violence. Senator Rehman stressed that not a single conviction was achieved in 134 honour killings, 243 rape cases, or 375 domestic violence cases, said a press release issued here on Thursday.
Balochistan recorded 398 cases, including 32 honour killings, of which only one resulted in a conviction. No convictions were secured in 21 rape or 185 abduction cases, while 25 convictions were recorded in 160 domestic violence cases.
Islamabad documented 220 cases, including 22 honour killings, with no convictions. Among 176 rape cases, seven convictions were secured, while all 22 domestic violence cases resulted in zero convictions.
Judicial Backlog and Systemic Breakdown
Senator Rehman further highlighted that despite the establishment of 480 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) courts, Pakistan entered 2023 with 21,891 pending cases. During the year, 48,395 new cases were filed and 30,631 were disposed of, raising the backlog to 39,655 cases.
She stated that the overall conviction rate stands at 0.5 percent, whereas 64 percent of accused persons are acquitted, calling this disparity “clear evidence of systemic failure.”
Citing Human Rights Watch, Senator Rehman said that 70 percent of gender-based violence cases go unreported due to fear, threats, and societal stigma.
She criticized lapses in law enforcement and prosecution, asserting that poor investigation standards, weak prosecution, and institutional voids are “giving perpetrators a free pass.”
“We visited a police station where a murder suspect was being garlanded,” she said, describing it as emblematic of the institutional decay.
She added that despite ongoing legislation on the issue since 2004, victims continued to be denied justice.