The Interior Ministry has revealed the latest records showing that the conviction ratio in rape cases in Pakistan is zero percent in last five years. The data was provided by the Senator Sughra Imam to the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice. The astonishing facts put a question mark on the Pakistan Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and Qanoon-e-Shahadat Ordinance – the existing laws for the protection of rights of every citizen of Pakistan. In 2010, section 509 of Pakistan Penal Code, ‘Insulting modesty or causing sexual harassment’ was amended and its punishment was increased as imprisonment up to three years or fine up to 500000 or both. The amendment was made to ensure the provision of justice to a sexually harassed woman. But, the recent facts proved all the efforts made by the legislators futile as no victim has got the justice within half of the decade in past. The disclosure of the statistics is of scary significance for the women in Pakistan. They might feel insecure at work places, academic institutions, or any other public or private places, because it seems that in cases of sexual harassment, they will never find justice.
Syed Ali Zaib Ul Hassan,
Islamabad, July 3.