The National Assembly’s special committee on gender mainstreaming has expressed alarm regarding the increasing violence against women and girls in Pakistan. The committee is urging authorities to take more decisive action beyond merely registering cases. They are calling for effective investigations and prosecutions to ensure that perpetrators are convicted. This call to action highlights the urgent need for systemic changes in how such cases are handled, as reported by Dawn.
New Initiative to Combat Violence Against Women and Children
The Islamabad Police will establish a dedicated serious-case cell to handle major incidents of violence against women and children. This recommendation comes from a committee focused on improving the response to such cases.
Additionally, the Ministry of Human Rights has been tasked with coordinating efforts between provincial police chiefs and authorities in Islamabad. The goal is to develop a central dashboard that will monitor these cases, enhancing oversight and response capabilities.
They said such information could expose weaknesses in investigation and prosecution, identify legal and institutional shortcomings and strengthen parliamentary oversight, as reported by Dawn. The lawmakers called for a mechanism to follow each case throughout the criminal justice process, from the initial complaint and investigation to prosecution, trial and final disposal. The proposed system would track registration, investigation, evidence preservation, prosecution, trial and outcomes, as highlighted by Dawn.
