PAKISTAN: Violence Against Women Eclipses Liberation in 2009

While women in Pakistan are being liberated in the world of today, violence against them is still alarmingly high, and those living in hostels or on there own are particularly vulnerable, said rights activists.

The activists told Daily Times that numerous steps at the state level are needed to empower women in the country. They say violence against the gender cannot be brought down unless women gain financial independence.

According to statistics available with Daily Times, 5,722 cases of violence against women were reported in 36 districts of Punjab in 2009. A report – compiled by the Aurat Foundation – shows that 6,507 women and girls were victimised in Punjab between January 1 and December 31, 2009.

The organisation compiled the report – ‘Situation of Violence against Women in Punjab' –in collaboration with the watch group Violence Against Women (VAW). Of the total of 5,722 offences in 2009, 30 percent were abductions, 17 percent murders, 14 percent rapes, 8 percent suicides and 1 percent acid attacks – while 5 percent of the cases were registered over domestic violence. Around 1,220 cases were of “miscellaneous nature”: vani, custodial violence, trafficking, juvenile marriages, incest, threats, harassment, attempted murders and attempted suicides.

The data shows that Lahore is the most aggressive city against women with 915 violence related offences, followed by Faisalabad with 742 cases, Sargodha with 474 cases, Gujranwala with 291 cases and Multan with 241 cases. The data also shows that violence against women in urban areas is 10 percent higher compared to rural areas: of the total of 5,722 cases – 3,139, or 55 percent, were reported in urban areas, while 2,583, or 45percent, were reported in rural areas. A total 4,464, or 78 percent, cases were registered with police stations, while 285, or 5 percent, went unregistered.

The rights activists and women said although activists had achieved some objectives – such as the tabling of a bill against sexual harassment and the abolishment of black laws against women passed during Ziaul Haq's regime – rising violence against women was a concern. Nosheen – who is a nurse at a government hospital in Lahore and has put herself up at a girls' hostel in Iqbal Town – said life in a hostel was “troublesome”. “The hostels don't let us come and go according to our choice. After a certain time, the doors are closed and the girls are not allowed to go out or come in. There should be a way to monitor these hostels”.

Pakistan Women's Day: Female rights activists gathered at the Aurat Foundation office on Thursday – a day ahead of “Pakistan Women's day” – to honour a women's rally for their rights in 1983 and against Ziaul Haq and the Law of Evidence. The participants of the rally – organise by the Women Action Forum (WAF) – were beaten up by police. Politician, rights activist and founding member of the WAF Mehnaz Rafi said women had protested against black laws passed by Zia at a time when he was in full command. She said February 12 should be celebrated as “Pakistan Women's Day” at the state level.

PPP MPA Sajida Mir said women should be given representation in police and policewomen must be deployed at every station. Also, the ASR Resource Centre is scheduled to hold a seminar on Pakistan Women's Day at its office.