Reports of rape and sexual assault are on the rise in Pakistan. Rape is a more heinous crime than murder. What kind of society would tolerate such atrocities? This state of affairs shows that our social values are in a shambles.

The government and political parties are doing nothing while people’s rights are being violated.

The country’s criminal justice system scarcely brings perpetrators to book in rape cases. The substantive laws as well as procedural laws on the subject need immediate amendments.

The constitution of Pakistan guarantees fundamental rights of citizens, and the state must ensure that every person enjoys an equal protection of laws.

Naveed Dall
Sargodha

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2014