Police make arrests but delays in DNA and weak prosecution halt convictions
Faisalabad Reports Ninety Seven Gang Rape Cases, Courts Deliver No Convictions
Faisalabad district has recorded ninety seven gang rape cases in the first eleven months of the current year, marking a disturbing rise from the eighty cases registered last year. Despite the increase in reporting and arrests, not a single accused has been convicted in court, according to official data reviewed by law enforcement and judicial authorities.
Across the district’s five divisions, the cases were distributed as follows: twelve in Lyallpur Town, twenty three in Iqbal Town, twenty seven in Madina Town, fifteen in Jaranwala, and twenty in Saddar Division.
Two Hundred Ninety Seven Accused, One Hundred Forty Five Arrests but No Verdicts
A total of two hundred ninety seven suspects were nominated in these cases, of which one hundred forty five were arrested.
Meanwhile, sixty six individuals were declared innocent, nine cases were dismissed, ten remain under investigation, and fifteen are pending due to incomplete DNA sampling.
Police officials insist that DNA testing is being carried out regularly, but systemic delays mean that reports that should take three months often require six months, causing serious setbacks in prosecution and weakening the ability of courts to deliver convictions.
Recent Case Highlights Gaps in Investigation
One of the latest incidents involved a twenty two year old woman from 204 RB who was allegedly drugged with lassi and gang raped at a private residence after being taken there by acquaintances under false pretenses.
Madina Town police registered the case under Section 375 A. The SHO conducted raids and arrested all three suspects. Despite the arrests, officials acknowledge that swift convictions remain impossible without timely forensic evidence.
Police Say Merit Is Ensured Yet Courts See No Results
SSP Investigation Nasir Mehmood Bajwa stated that a special SSIO unit has been established to ensure that every gang rape case is investigated with maximum transparency.
He noted that challans in thirty four cases have already been submitted to courts, while ten cases have been dismissed and sixty six accused have been found innocent so far. Evidence for the remaining cases is being compiled.
However, none of these cases have resulted in a conviction, exposing a widening gap between investigation and judicial outcome.
Human Rights Concerns Rise as Numbers Climb
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Faisalabad’s ninety seven cases are part of a larger pattern, with one thousand forty two gang rape cases registered across Punjab this year.
Legal experts argue that the rise in reporting reflects increased trust in women officers and specialized units, but the lack of convictions threatens to undo progress, discouraging victims from seeking justice.
Why This Matters: A Justice System Failing Survivors
The absence of convictions despite rising incidents raises serious questions about forensic capacity, police procedure, and judicial delays.
A justice system that fails to punish perpetrators sends a dangerous message to society, weakens survivor confidence, and emboldens offenders.
Faisalabad’s situation highlights a national problem: cases are being registered, survivors are coming forward, police are making arrests, yet the system stalls at the courtroom door.
Unless DNA processes are accelerated and prosecution standards strengthened, the gap between reported crimes and actual justice will continue to widen.