CRIME AGAINST WOMEN (SHAHID RASHID:CRIMINOLOGIST)

The number of registered cases regarding crime against women in March 2012 was 17 per district as compared to the preceding month when only 10 FIRs were filed.

 A report released on Monday said that although rise in such cases is a cause for concern, it also indicates increased awareness of lodging reports of these crimes. The report released by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) claimed its monitors visited 77 offices of the district police officers (DPOs) to gather information on the FIRs registered for 27 offences falling under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

 Of the monitored districts, 27 were in Punjab, 21 in Sindh, 19 in KPK, 9 in Balochistan and 01 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

 In the observed month, there was a significant increase in reported cases of forced marriages that rose from 314 in 35 districts in February to 653 in 40 districts.

 Lahore (222), Okara (69) and Vehari (47) were the top reporting districts in March. Moreover, 108 cases of offences relating to marriage were also registered in 10 districts. Rape was also widespread as 220 FIRs were filed in 43 districts in March as compared to 147 registered in 33 districts the preceding month. In February, 193 cases of attack on modesty were reported in 33 districts while March saw the number rising to 270 in 38 districts.

 There were also 37 cases of honour killings reported in March in 16 districts. The most cases were recorded in Ghotki (6), Kamber Shahdadkot (4) and Rajanpur (4). In February, 24 FIRs were filed for honour killings in 16 districts.

 As many as 41,671 cases of crimes were reported in the monitored districts. Eighteen percent of these were crimes pertaining to property, followed by those involving physical harm to people (9%), threat and fraud (7%) and crimes against women (3%). Moreover, 64% were cases of other crimes.

 A region-wise breakup shows that 65% of the total crimes were reported in Punjab, KPK (23%), Sindh (10%) and Balochistan (1%). There were also 148 cases recorded in ICT.

 A better outreach, lack of parallel judicial systems and a higher confidence level between the police and the people are said to be the probable reasons for better crime reportage in Punjab than other regions.