SWLA Expresses Concern Over Rise In Rape Cases
By Our Correspondent
KARACHI: Civil society leaders have expressed grave concern over the alarming rise in cases of rape, murder, and abduction of women and minor girls in Sindh, demanding swift justice in high-profile cases and an end to institutional silence.
The demands were made at a dialogue titled “Justice in Sexual Violence Cases Against Women and the Silence of Civil Society,” organized by the Sindh Women Lawyers Alliance. Participants called for the completion of trials within two weeks in cases involving Asiya Khoso, Sara Baloch, Sabira Pathan, and other victims, urging authorities to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice without delay.
Speaking on the occasion, Alliance Chairperson Shazia Nizamani said that society’s silence over incidents of sexual violence and killings in Thul, Chotiari Dam, Mirpurkhas, Jacobabad, Jamshoro, and other areas is itself a tragedy. She stressed that media outlets and social media platforms must adhere to journalistic ethics and codes of conduct when reporting on survivors of sexual assault, avoiding sensationalism and insensitive coverage.
Nizamani further noted that Sindh is the only province with specific laws and ordinances aimed at protecting women’s rights, yet many senior police officers and judges remain unaware of these legal safeguards. As a result, patriarchal attitudes continue to create obstacles for women seeking justice at police stations and in courts.
Activist Seemi Kamal said that if those involved in violence against women were punished in accordance with the law, cases such as that of Fatima Phariro would not have been dismissed, and perpetrators in the Jacobabad TikTok assault case would not have been able to intimidate the victim.
Rubina Chandio urged the state to take notice of jirga-style practices that further victimize survivors of sexual violence. Advocate Safia Lako criticized what she described as inconsistent behavior by authorities, stating that while senior police officials often express sympathy before the media, their attitude later turns hostile toward victims and women leaders advocating for justice.
Lawyers Marvi Kalhoro, Faiza Khan, Sameera Ashfaq, Iffat Ara, Sapna Advocate, Kausar S. Khan, and Advocate Habib Panhwar called on bar associations to take a clear stand against violence targeting women. They demanded an end to discriminatory treatment of women lawyers in courts, cessation of police excesses against women, and mandatory training for judges on women’s rights laws and gender-sensitive conduct.
