LAHORE: More than 3,000 rape cases of women came to light in Punjab during the year 2020.
According to official statistics, 3,264 cases of rape of women and 181 cases of gang rape were reported in Punjab. As per the official figures, 2,255 cases of abuse were challenged while 444 cases are under investigation. In 124 cases of gang rape, challan was completed while 23 cases under investigation and 34 cases on the basis of lack of evidence were excluded.
Similarly, 558 cases of abuse were dismissed on the basis of lack of evidence. DIG Police Operations Ashfaq Ahmad Khan said that if you look at the statistics of this year, they are less than the previous years and in many cases, the police have completed the work.
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Women’s rights groups say police figures are much lower than the actual number of cases. Executive Director Vice Bashari Khaliq said that these cases are more than the actual reported cases but women do not report under family pressure while some do not go to the police station due to the police system.
Nighat Dad, executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation, said that the abused women are later blackmailed into making videos. Social workers said every segment of society must play its part in preventing incidents of abuse of women so that gender can play a role in the development of a vulnerable society without fear or favor.
