Governance crisis in Pakistan is augmented by discourses often not supported by empirical evidence. Feminist discourse usually considers political development integral to root-out discrimination against women: forced marriages, domestic violence, Rape, attack on or insulting modesty of women, and honor killing. Anti-women acts are often considered to be more frequent and intense in the under-developed areas with uphold of religion. However, empirical data suggest a rather different picture.

Statistics show that Lahore recorded the highest number of anti-women offences in 2012 (134 in total), followed by Faisalabad (110) and Multan (105). In cases of forced marriages Islamabad Capital territory shows 66% increase in 2012. In rape cases Lahore was top in ranking in the same year followed by Faisalabad. In cases of honor-killing Faisalabad has the highest reported cases in 2012. Province-wise patterns show that in 2012 Punjab recorded 17% increase, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shows 15% increase while Sindh shows 35% decline in anti-women offences. Baluchistan reported only three cases in the year 2012.

The above data shows that Islamabad being the most developed area in Pakistan recorded highest rate of forced marriages, Faisalabad the third largest economy of the country showed the highest rate of offences against women and Punjab the most developed province of the country shows highest frequency of anti-women crimes. Resultantly it can be stated that political development is not a panacea to anti-women crimes and under-development or religion is not necessarily the cause for such offences. 

Written by Waqar Ahmad 


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