WE keep hearing about rape incidents one after the other. When is it going to stop? Why have women and girls always been viewed as an object in this country? The women of the country deserve an answer from those at the helm of affairs, and indeed from the men in society.

Recently, a first-year college student was allegedly abducted and later gang-raped by five people in Karachi’s Gulshan-i-Hadeed area. Three suspects have been arrested by the police so far. No one wants to live amongst such barbarians in this society. We should chuck them out. To rape somebody is akin to killing the whole humanity. It is apparent that sexual assault cases in our country are escalating day by day.

According to official data, there are at least 11 rape cases reported in Pakistan every day with over 22,000 cases having been reported to police across the country in the last six years. And, unfortunately, these numbers are only increasing.

The numbers point out the damning flaws in the country’s judicial system which fails to provide justice to the victims and their families.

The filthy rich shut the mouth of relevant authorities with the money they have at their disposal. On their part, the victims and their families have to confront the social and psychological trauma after such incidents. Demands for justice and the social media trends only end up highlighting the issue but it all comes down to the courts to deliver the final verdict.

Under section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), when rape is committed by two or more persons in furtherance of the common intention of all, each of them should be punished with death or imprisonment for life without parole. The need of the hour is to spread awareness and to educate the community about rape.

Rimsha Habib
Okara

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2021