- By Supratik Das
- Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:53 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistan Women Violence: As the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, newly released assessments from rights groups and police data in Pakistan reveal a grave and escalating crisis.
A biannual evaluation by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation, based on information obtained through the Right to Information law, shows Punjab alone records 85 cases of violence against women every single day, including nine sexual assaults daily.
The factsheet of Violence Against Women Punjab 2025 points to rampant abuse, sexual assault, kidnapping, domestic violence, honour killings, trafficking, and cyber harassment. Lahore was found to be the worst-hit district, topping sexual assault cases, kidnappings, and domestic violence complaints with over 2,000 cases in just six months.
Hundreds Of Cases, Zero Convictions
According to The Dawn, in Islamabad, the latest SSDO factsheet paints a similarly bleak picture, 373 cases of violence against women were reported between January and June 2025, of which 309 were complaints of rape and kidnapping, yet not a single conviction was recorded.
Most of such cases were withdrawn or fell apart due to weak investigation, lack of protection of victims, and delayed trials. SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas termed the situation as "alarming" while accusing the justice system of systemic failure.
Sindh fared no better. According to Dawn, the province reported 204 cases of domestic violence during the first six months of 2025, including physical assault, sexual abuse and psychological abuse, but again, not even one conviction was achieved. Kemari district topped physical abuse cases, while Karachi East led sexual abuse complaints.
7500 Women Murdered Nationwide In Four Years
This crisis extends far beyond provincial borders. On November 7, Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Azam Nazeer Tarar, informed the National Assembly that more than 7,500 women had been killed from 2021 to 2024, of which 1,553 were honour killings.
At the same time, 17,771 rape and gang-rape cases were recorded, while almost 10,000 women faced brutality inside their homes. Data from the National Police Bureau also shows 1,73,367 cases of violence against women reported nationwide over four years, with a steep rise every year.
Rising Online Misogyny
Adding to concerns, the latest report from UK's Research Centre documents widespread misogynistic and harmful content targeting women on Pakistani social media platforms. The organisation says that digital harassment has become routine, with public engagement often normalizing or amplifying abuse.
Thus, Pakistan’s soaring violence against women is not just a statistical red flag; it is a national emergency demanding immediate action, political will, and societal reckoning.
With inputs from agencies.