Lahore saw highest number of child rape cases in Punjab in 2016-17: report

E-Paper | June 08, 2026

A report submitted to the National Assembly's committee on Human Rights says that out of all the cities in Punjab, Lahore saw the highest number of child rape cases in 2016-17, DawnNews learnt on Saturday.

Lahore saw 107 cases of child rape, the report prepared by Punjab's additional chief secretary and additional inspector general says, while pointing out that 2017 saw a higher number of reported child rape cases than 2016.

In two years, 1,297 cases of child rape were reported in Punjab; out of these, 66 cases were reported in Kasur, 38 in Sheikhupura, 50 in Khushab.

Out of of the total number, 252 were cases of sexual assault against girls while 1,045 were cases of sexual assault against boys.

At least 43 children were murdered after being subjected to sexual assault in Punjab; out of these, three children were murdered in Lahore.

In response to the reports of sexual assault, police arrested 1,446 suspects. However, only 21 were sentenced and 166 suspects were set free due to lack of evidence against them.

This report was submitted in the wake of increasing number of child rape reports that have come to light after 6-year-old Zainab's body was found from a heap trash on Jan 9. The girl was kidnapped from her neighbourhood on Jan 4. She was raped and later murdered.

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Nadir Guramani is a journalist and anchorperson for Dawn News (TV) with 17 years of experience. His reporting covers parliamentary affairs, foreign policy, politics, climate change, and human rights. He can be found on X at @nguramani.

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Siraj Khan

Jan 20, 2018 05:55pm

In two years, 1,297 cases of child rape reported in Punjab; out of these, 66 cases were reported in Kasur, 38 in Sheikhupura, 50 in Khushab. Out of of the total of 1297 cases of child rape, 252 were sexual assault against girls while 1,045 were cases of sexual assault against boys. Little BOYS seem to have become preferred prey over girls. What this report does not say is that the rape has mostly been committed by family members, including fathers and brothers. So who do these poor kids turn to for HELP!

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Yes

Jan 20, 2018 06:47pm

@Siraj Khan you raise an important point, it’s the families who abuse which is why cases either go unreported, or not pursued properly.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Jan 20, 2018 06:47pm

The alarming statistics is a proof of PMLN's and police incompetency and failure to control sick and inhumane incidents. This is disgraceful and indicates the mindset of a mentally sick society.

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Ahsan Gul

Jan 20, 2018 07:12pm

what a shame on us all - and we let a few destroy our young generations? We have statistics about child abuse and this Punjab government did almost nothing? In any civilized country top police to include CM would have been fired if not in jail!! Police is backed up by our politicians and government officials, so police does a very minimal. Sad, we call ourselves Muslims and these mullahs, and long beards clerics are quite and never say anything in their Friday sermons about children sexual abuse.

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Tahir

Jan 20, 2018 07:49pm

What about other provinces

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Naeem Qureshi

Jan 20, 2018 07:59pm

When the police is politicized and protection of the corrupt leaders instead of the public is a priority what do you expect.

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Chacha

Jan 20, 2018 08:46pm

That’s mean on an average there are multiple cases each day, the government if they cannot do anything they should resign if they have a little bit of shame,

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Asif Ali

Jan 20, 2018 09:06pm

What our religious teachers doing, it is their duty to build good character, always busy spreading hatred against minorities.

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Justice 2

Jan 21, 2018 12:02am

And the corrupt Sharif’s only take about building g motorways and orange trains where they have a huge opportunity to launder money via big projects. Shame on such people who go to do Umrah & Hajj yet still carry out some ch corrupt acts.

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Saif Zulfiqar

Jan 21, 2018 12:11am

Punjab has highest number of every crime. Thanks to Shariffs.

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ADNAN AZIZ

Jan 21, 2018 08:21am

Punjab is the hub of incompetence of Sharifs. What else could have been expected from PML(N)?

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