LAHORE: A civil society organisation says that in 2023 Punjab recorded rise in violence against women cases, with Lahore and Faisalabad being the most affected districts.

Sustainable Social Development Organization released the report on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Up to 10,201 cases of violence against women were registered under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the PPC. This was a 14.5% increase from the 8,787 cases reported in 2022.

Lahore saw 1,464 cases, followed by Sheikhupura 1,198 and Kasur 877 cases. The report stated that on average, 28 women faced some form of violence every day in Punjab in 2023.

Up to 6,624 rape cases were registered in 2023, meaning that one woman was raped every 45 minutes. Faisalabad topped the list with 728 cases, followed by Lahore (721) and Sargodha (398).

Up to 626 women were kidnapped, 120 killed in the name of honor, and 20 were trafficked in 2023. Lahore, Faisalabad and Rahim Yar Khan were among the hot spot districts for these crimes.

inheritance rights: Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq has emphasized that individuals denying women their inheritance rights should be disqualified from participating in elections.

Speaking at a women’s rally on International Women’s Day at The Mall, he attributed the deprivation of Pakistani women to feudal lords and certain ruling dynasties within the parliament.

Haq advocated for compulsory education for girls, asserting that the state should ensure free education for them.

He proposed the establishment of state-of-the-art women’s universities in every district, along with a dedicated transport system for females. He called for stringent measures to protect women in workplaces, urging strict punishment for those who abuse and harass them.

He said the JI, if voted to power, would provide interest-free loans to women for starting their own business. Haq announced the JI’s plan to organize the Palestine Solidarity March in Islamabad on March 10 in front of the US embassy.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2024