THE blame for the miserable state of women lies at the door of successive governments that did little to shape protective structures and pro-women narratives. Three women were lost to brutality recently. In Rawalpindi, 45-year-old Hina Javed was found dead with torture marks, hands tied, and a wire around her neck; her husband and domestic help have been arrested. Hina Zareef from Islamabad was allegedly shot by her father because she was ending an abusive marriage. Sukkur’s Jannat Khatoon was burnt during a quarrel in her marital home. What these victims had in common was facing deadly abuse within the confines of their ‘safe’ spaces. Familiar condemnations from politicians and social media outrage followed. Meanwhile, the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus has condemned the murder in Rawalpindi. Sadly, so far, no one has taken to the streets — an effective means of protest.
Laws for women’s safety — including a mandatory prison term for ‘honour’ killing — exist. Yet, poor enforcement by a chauvinistic criminal justice system has thrown up conviction rates that linger at a dismal 0.5pc for ‘honour’ killings and rape, 0.1pc for kidnapping, and 1.3pc for domestic violence. Most instances go unreported. This crisis of accountability has left us with an epidemic of violence. The state’s failure to end impunity stands in the way of females living well. Patriarchal attitudes have long seeped into law enforcement. As a result, victims are either doubted and blamed or compelled to withdraw their cases for out-of-court settlements. Reforms, including a consequential increase in the number of women in the police force with fast-track courts for cases of gender-based violence, are needed. Survivors must get legal aid and identity protection. Families of the slain must see perpetrators punished. Violence — the daily truth of Pakistan’s women — has placed the country among the most dangerous places for females. Justice alone can keep the social contract between citizens and the state from fraying.
Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2026
