Sindh records a rape conviction rate of 22%, followed by Balochistan at 12% and KP at 6%.
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights on Thursday reviewed conviction rates in human rights-related cases across provinces, alongside broader concerns about the delivery of justice, security and gender inequality in Pakistan.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Samina Zehri, was briefed by the human rights secretary on conviction rates, which rose to 4 percent in 2020, with officials claiming an improvement from 2021.
Provincial data on rape conviction rates was also presented. Sindh recorded a conviction rate of 22 per cent, followed by Balochistan at 12 per cent, Islamabad at 6.9 per cent and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at 6 per cent. Punjab recorded the lowest conviction rate at 4 per cent.
During the session, lawmakers expressed concerns about delays in justice and inefficiencies in the legal system. Senator Khalil Tahir questioned why justice cannot be done within 24 hours if crimes can be committed within that period.
“Humanity is dead. We just discuss these issues in the halls and then move on,” said the commission president. “In Punjab, a bus driver raped a woman.”
Senator Abid Sher Ali said that if a citizen hits a Pera Force officer, the Anti-Terrorism Law is invoked.
“But when a common man is shot with 160 bullets, Section 7ATA does not apply,” he added.
The Punjab attorney general said that in cases involving attacks on uniformed forces, such provisions apply.
Abid Sher Ali said that in such cases, even courts commit injustice by granting bail. “In our society, the powerful class gets its way.”
The committee also discussed the Jaranwala incident, where attacks on the Christian community and churches were condemned.
Lawmakers emphasized the need to counter religious extremism. Abid Sher Ali called for an end to “religious extremism.”
Senator Aimal Wali Khan criticized the police system, saying law enforcement had been deeply compromised.
“If a judge is corrupt, accepts bribes or money, we will speak out against him. If someone has the courage, they can cite us for contempt of court,” he said.
The human rights secretary briefed the committee on gender disparity indicators and stated that Pakistan was ranked last among 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index. He noted that 26 million children remain out of school in the country, with dropout rates particularly high among girls after primary education.
She further highlighted that women’s participation in public administration had improved to around 44-47 percent in recent years, while representation in the federal cabinet remained limited. He also highlighted regulatory measures that require at least one woman on company boards of directors.
