LAHORE:
Punjab Police is preparing to set up a specialized sexual crimes investigation unit within the Crime Control Department (CCD) to address delays in investigations and arrests amid a sharp rise in reported cases across the province.
Police sources said the CCD completed a province-wide review of existing investigation units and compiled a detailed database of sexual assault cases, including those in which suspects are still at large.
Internal assessments revealed that a large number of cases had stalled due to weak coordination, lack of specialized training, and delays in technical and forensic procedures. Under the proposed system, all rape and sexual violence cases, along with the arrest of designated suspects, will be handled by a unit specifically run by the CCD. The unit will rely on modern investigative tools, enhanced data analytics, and a centralized command structure to closely monitor each case from booking to arrest.
Official figures show that 13,820 cases of sexual assault were registered across Punjab last year. Lahore recorded the highest number with 1,576 reported incidents involving women and children, followed by Faisalabad with 945 cases, Gujranwala with 789 and Khanewal with 724.
Senior police officials admit that, despite the high number of reported cases, many investigations have not led to timely arrests, eroding public trust and prolonging the suffering of survivors. “The new mechanism aims to remove procedural hurdles and determine accountability at every stage,” a senior officer said, adding that the CCD unit will closely coordinate with district police, forensic agencies and prosecutors to ensure faster and more effective action.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, soon after assuming office, repeatedly announced a zero-tolerance policy against sexual crimes, particularly those involving women and children. In a series of high-level meetings with senior law enforcement officials, he called for swift, transparent and uncompromising measures to ensure justice for victims and deter criminals.
However, despite these policy statements, the total number of reported cases of sexual violence has not shown any significant decline, pointing to structural weaknesses that extend beyond political resolution.
Even when first information reports (FIRs) are filed, many investigations suffer from poor evidence collection, delays in forensic analysis and poor coordination with prosecutors, resulting in low conviction rates.
Recent statistics illustrate the problem: while thousands of cases of sexual assault are registered in Punjab every year, only a fraction lead to the filing of prosecution challans, and even fewer result in convictions. This gap has reinforced public frustration and undermined trust in the criminal justice system.
