Daily Times

The rate of sexual violence reached an all-time high in Pakistan in the last decade. Instances of rape occur on a daily basis, and it is no surprise that the local police have been reported to be involved in a large fraction of these cases. In Punjab alone, at least 1,214 children were raped in 2018. Between 2014 and 2017, there were a total of 10,000 rape cases reported in Punjab. It is important to note that these statistics exclude unreported instances where survivors have hesitated to file FIRs either because they fear no action will be taken or due to the social stigma associated with such episodes.

In 2018, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) launched an index where Pakistan received the fourth lowest ranking in a list of countries, including Syria and Afghanistan, on treatment of women. I will be using the term ‘survivor’ to identify those who have undergone rape and ‘victim’ for women who have been through physical abuse resulting in the loss of life.

Sexual violence in Pakistan exists on different degrees; it exists among both children and middle-aged women. Perpetrators include locals and police officials alike. The said ‘violence’ consists broadly of rape, gang rape, and in extreme cases, murdering of the victims after they have been assaulted. Some personnel of leading law-enforcement institutions such as the police are not only responsible for these actions, but also for their negligence towards providing justice for rape cases.

In May 2019, four suspects identified as Muhammad Naseer, Rashid Minhas, Amir and Muhammad Azeem gangraped a 22-year-old student in Rawalpindi. Out of the four, three were police officials who faced suspension from duty upon the publicising of this news. However, reports revealed that the families of the suspects were constantly pressurising the family of the victim to drop the case. Is this a strong precedent set for future rapists?

Survivors are given minimal witness protection, if any at all, causing them to fear pressing charges due to the potential intimidation and harassment inflicted on their family by members of the police

Similarly, in April 2019, an assistant sub-inspector in Bahawalpur was charged with ruthlessly raping a woman behind closed doors when she came to the station to report an instance of gang rape. In September 2018, a police official in Dera Ghazi Khan was alleged to have raped a six-year-old girl.

It is difficult to not question the credibility of the local police in the light of such incidents. Theoretically, the police are an institution responsible for protecting local citizens. When those who are trusted to protect and provide safety to the locals become the doers, one tends to doubt the extent of their safety within their own neighbourhoods and surroundings.

The worst part about the occurrence of such mishaps is that they are not given due attention and relevance on a legal and administrative level. This problem persists especially among women belonging to the lower-middle- and working-class families. Their social classification in society plays a crucial role in determining whether justice will be served for their case. Survivors are given minimal witness protection, if any at all, causing them to fear pressing charges due to the potential intimidation and harassment inflicted on their family by members of the police.

The local police follows a ‘thana’ culture, which means that the police force becomes politicised and does not work as an independent institution. The purpose of propagating this culture, which includes torture, mistreatment, and illegal detention among other atrocities, is to allow police officers to do as they wish. This goes against the principal of autonomy, and gives powerless police officers the freedom to carry out acts of corruption and violence, and commit abuses at their own will.

The frequent occurrence of these incidents shows that no strict action has been taken in the way of providing high-level security on the streets, making it a safe place for local women. Failure to implement laws favouring the protection of women from violence on the streets is the main reason why women surround themselves with insecurity about presenting themselves in broader society without a male counterpart.

The first step to preventing gender-based violence is holding the perpetrators accountable to a standard, which sets an effective precedent for future sex offenders. This could be followed by reforms in the selection criteria of police officers in different ranks during recruitment. In extension to those, more women should be employed in the police to offer physical, mental, emotional, and administrative support to survivors. In what seems like an ideal world, police officers should undergo extensive training programmes for sexual assault before they start serving. That would enable officers to treat such crimes with due importance along with causing them to refrain from engaging in sexual assault.

As far as the government is concerned, efforts to remove the stigma that prevents survivors from reporting their cases should be made. In order to instill fear in the hearts of potential perpetrators, government should publicly announce a penalty for rapists. Additionally, the incorporation of awareness programmes in school curriculums and workshops offering training would be an effective step to make the masses recognise the gravity and extent of this crime. When victims are being questioned, they should be provided with legal protection along with their witnesses. This will enable the formation of a safe space for survivors who may receive some form of comfort at the end of their unspeakable ordeal.

People may argue against such measures due to the fact that Pakistan is based on an Islamic constitution, and such education would be considered ‘controversial’. However, multiple rape cases occur every passing day in this country, and ignoring the issue would be a massive violation of human rights. Evidently, the extent of gender-based violence has been noted by the international community, and it won’t be long before Pakistan begins receiving backlash for the rising rate of sexual crimes.

It is important to note that a major change cannot occur overnight; a single step in the way of restoring justice can open up avenues for legislative and social change in the long run. Awareness of this heinous crime is paramount before individuals are employed in extensive training programmes. Negligence and indifference have become vices for our local people, carrying irreversible consequences for victims.

The writer is a freelancer