The first bi-annual report covering cases of violence against women (VAW) in Punjab from January to June 2011 was released by the Aurat Foundation.
Ex-National Assembly member Mehnaz Rafi, Provincial Assembly Member Sajida Mir, Legal Advisor to Governor Abdullah Malik, Supreme Court Advocate Erum Sajjad Gul and others were present at the report release. According to the report, 3,035 cases of violence were recorded in Punjab only in which 3,301 women and 266 men were victimised. Abduction was the most frequently committed crime with 1,069 women falling prey to it. Murder came next, with 611 victims, of which 156 were killed for honour. 96 women targeted with attempted murder survived.
The report revealed 345 victims of rape/gang rape, two of which were cases of incest. Suicide was also seen at a high level with 278 women killing themselves and 189 attempting it. Acid-throwing, burning, domestic violence, early marriage, forced marriage, trafficking, threat to life, harassment, illegal custody, vani, sexual assault, torture and injury were also a part of the crime list. Out of 3,035 cases, only 2,542 were registered with the police, 103 were not registered, and 390 did not have enough information to be registered.
1,404 cases were reported from rural Punjab, 1,489 from urban areas and in 142 cases the area was not known. Urban areas showed a higher number of crimes despite claims of literacy and senitisation. Most abusers were husbands, fathers, brothers, uncles and other relatives. Lahore had the largest number of VAW cases (506) followed by Faislabad (499), Rawalpindi (220), Sargodha (168), Multan (165), Chakwal (143) and Sheikhupura (128). Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan Jehlum, Attock and Okara also showed a high number of VAW cases. According to the report, women were being victimised in Punjab with an average of 5 being abducted, 2 being murdered, 2 being raped and one committing suicide everyday.
