Over 3,000 women harrassed in Punjab in six months!

Majority of the women harrassed in the streets was married - A total of 3,153 incidents of violence against women were reported from Punjab in the period January – June, which was nearly 69 percent of the total number of such incidents reported from the country. Statistics showed that 42 percent of women who suffered from violence were unmarried. Around 1,309 unmarried women were victims of violence, while 1,262 married women faced violence in Punjab. Around 38 percent victims were divorced while 71 percent were reported to have been widowed. There was inconclusive information regarding 15 percent of the victims. Ages of most victims was uncertain, however 455 victims were below 18 years of age, 173 were 19 to 36 years old and 63 victims were over the age of 36 years. If statistics from all other provinces were combined, the number of incidents of violence in other provinces was less than the number reported in Punjab. The high number of incidents was an indication of increased access, for women, to media and law enforcement. It might however be possible that incidents of violence in Punjab were really more frequent. Abduction and kidnapping remained the most frequent forms of violence against women in Punjab, with 29 percent cases of abduction reported. Murder, rape and gang rape were the second and third most frequently reported categories of violence, with 471 murders and 366 rape and gang rape incidents reported. Suicide, honor killing, miscellaneous injuries and torture, domestic violence and suicide attempts were also frequently reported from Punjab. Around 165 incidents of honor killing were also reported from Punjab, 107 incidents of attempted rape and 13 incidents of sexual assault were also reported. FIRs had been registered for 76 percent of the reported cases from Punjab. FIRs of 4 percent of the cases did not get registered while there was no information regarding the FIR status of the remaining 20 percent cases. Nighat Khan from Asar told Pakistan today that Lahore is provincial capital of Punjab and it is also known as the city of education. Despite that, acid throwing is one of the most shameful acts which we have not seen in other provinces except Punjab. CM Punjab should take such actions to stop this violence against women, she added. Categories of VAW in Punjab Types of violence Total crimes Percentage Abduction/Kidnapping 911 29% Acid throwing 44 1% Burning 24 1% DV Injury 64 2% DV Torture 51 2% Honor Killing 165 5% Attempt to kidnap 53 2% Attempt to Murder 78 2% Attempt to Rape 107 3% Attempt to suicide 80 3% Early Marriage 6 0% Forced Marriage 4 0% Harassment 34 1% Illegal Custody 15 0% Incest 8 0% Misc Injury 200 6% Karo Kari 7 0% Trafficking 24 1% Threat to Life 31 1% Misc Torture 138 4% Vani 20 1% Watta Satta 0 0% Murder 471 15% Rape/Gang Rape 366 12% Sexual Assault 13 0% Suicide 239 8% Total 3153 100% 10 worst districts in Punjab S.No District Name Total number of crimes Percentage of Total against women 1 Lahore 272 9% 2 Okara 262 8% 3 Sargodha 223 7% 4 Faisalabad 185 6% 5 Rawalpindi 143 5% 6 Sialkot 135 4% 7 Gujrat 130 4% 8 DG Khan 125 4% 9 Pakpattan 110 3% 10 Muzaffargarh 105 3% Marital Status Total Crimes Percentage Un Married 1309 42% Married 1262 40% Divorced 38 1% Widowed 71 2% No information 473 15%