LAHORE: Over 3,000 cases of violence against women were reported in 36 districts of the Punjab between January and June this year.
The Aurat Foundation disclosed these figures in a report at the Lahore Press Club on Monday. The number of abduction cases, which was 901, was the highest, while the number of 412 rape cases that were reported is the second highest. During this time, 393 murder cases and 21 cases of acid throwing were reported, while 253 women committed suicide.
119 ‘honour’ killings took place, 149 women suffered domestic violence and 124 sexual assault cases were reported during this period. 672 cases of miscellaneous violence were also reported.
The number of violence cases, which was 511, was the highest in the Lahore district. In Faisalabad, 420 cases of violence were reported, followed by 283 in Sargodha, 137 in Multan and 136 in Sheikhupura.
Nabeela Shaheen and Abid Ali presented the report, while legislators Sajida Mir and Nighat Nisar were also present on the occasion. Abid Ali said out of the total 3,067 cases of violence, 1,761 were from urban areas while 1,306 cases were from rural areas. The first information report (FIR) of 2,358 cases was registered while that of 185 cases was not, while information about the registration of 524 cases was missing.
The report said 1,485 victims were unmarried while 1,406 were married. There were 80 widows and 11 divorcees while 520 victims did not disclose their marital status. 445 victims were under age, while 211 women were between the ages of 19 and 36. The victims’ age was unknown in 2,786 cases.
Lahore incidents: In Lahore, 197 abduction cases, 63 murder cases, including 13 of ‘honour’ killings, 49 of suicide, 45 of rape and 13 cases of sexual assault were reported.
The speakers said the government should eliminate violence against women. They said these figures were incomplete since many cases of violence against women went unnoticed. They said domestic violence and worries forced many women to commit suicide.
Source: Daily Times
Date:8/4/2009
