n the morning of September 21, a chilling discovery was made in Chak 72 GB, near Faisalabad. Farmers heading towards their fields came across the bodies of two girls lying by the roadside. The news spread throughout the area, drawing a large crowd of villagers to the scene.

Mohammad Hussain was among the first to arrive. He recounted the horror in an interview with The News on Sunday. “When I got there, the police and Rescue 1122 teams had already reached the site. The sight of the girls’ bodies left me speechless. I cannot put into words what I felt. They had been gunned down; the agony of death was evident on their faces,” he said.

The victims were identified as 23-year-old Nida, wife of Waqas Shah from Kotwar, Sheikhupura, and 15-year-old Ayesha, daughter of Ramazan from Wamona, Sheikhupura. The girls were cousins and had reportedly been missing for nearly a year.

The killings left the community in a shock, with many wondering how such a heinous crime could have been committed next to their homes. The investigations are still under way. The police have yet to identify potential motives or suspects in the case. The tragic incident has sparked outrage in the area.

On the same day, in Allama Iqbal Colony of Faisalabad, two sisters were throttled to death. The alleged killer was their father, reportedly driven by rage following a domestic spat.

Police said, the suspect, Akmal, had been estranged from his wife, Zainab Bibi. For the past few months, Zainab had been living with her parents, along with their two daughters, 6-year-old Iman Fatima and 7-year-old Noor Fatima. Upset that his wife had not returned home, Akmal arrived at his in-laws’ house, where he had a quarrel with his wife and her family. Consumed by anger, he locked himself in a room with his two daughters and strangled them to death. After the heinous crime, he fled from the scene. He was later apprehended by police and charged with murder.

The same afternoon, a 14-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a hospital worker in the labour room. The victim, identified as Noor Fatima from Afghanabad, had come to the hospital with her mother for some medical tests. The suspect, Ehsan alias Hassan, lured her into entering the labour room under the pretext of conducting the tests.

Once inside, he administered sedatives to render her unconscious and then proceeded to sexually assault her before fleeing.

This incident is one of more than ten cases of abduction and of women that were registered in Faisalabad on the same day, highlighting a deeply troubling rise in crimes against women in the region. In addition to sexual violence, Faisalabad continues to witness a disturbing trend of so-called honour killings, forced marriages involving underage girls and cases of forced religious conversions.

According the Punjab Police, the first six months of the current year saw the registration of 13,838 abduction cases, 1,969 rape cases and 411 cases of gang rape.

Additionally, the Punjab Women’s Helpline recorded 5,655 complaints of domestic violence, 5,230 of harassment and 713 complaints of criminal assault from women in 2023. The Digital Rights Foundation reported receiving 2,224 complaints of cyber harassment from women.

A recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan revealed that in 2023, 226 women were killed in the name of ‘honour,’ 700 were abducted, 631 were raped and 277 were gang-raped. The report said that gender-based violence had seen a significant increase compared to 2022.

The growing incidence of violence against women has led to its alarming ranking in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023. The country is ranked 142 out of 146.

Jawahra Ehsan, a clinical psychologist at Women Shelter Home, Faisalabad, says that gender-based violence affects not just women but also a large number of boys. She says that the root cause of such crimes is the vulnerability of women and children, who often cannot report crimes committed against them.

“To prevent such incidents, it’s crucial to enforce the law effectively; educate women and children; and empowering and encourage them to report and stop these crimes,” she says.

Dr Ehsan also highlights the role of the media, stating that when such incidents are reported by the press, authorities take notice and act against the culprits.

She says Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and chairperson of the Women Protection Authority, Hina Pervaiz Butt, have done commendable work in addressing crimes against women. However, she emphasised that the entire society must play its part. In many cases, she says, people aware of a crime remain silent or pressure victims into staying quiet. This allows such crimes to go unpunished and encourages the criminals.

“The fight against gender-based violence is not just the responsibility of the government. It requires collective societal action to break the cycle of silence and impunity that fuels such crimes,” she says.

Maria Rustam Advocate, a human rights lawyer in Faisalabad, highlights the need to enhance the capacity of investigative officers, prosecutors and judicial officials to raise the conviction rate in cases of gender-based violence.

“Article 25 of the constitution states that ‘there shall be no discrimination on the basis of gender.’ Article 28 mandates that steps shall be taken to ensure full participation of women in all spheres of national life,’” Rustam recalls.

She says that patriarchal norms, societal stigma and the fear of retaliatory violence prevent many women from reporting gender-based crimes. Rustam says that changing societal attitudes and mindsets is crucial to reducing gender-based violence. “Women must not be viewed as property or a burden,” she says.

She also emphasises the need to address gender inequality and strictly enforce the laws to curb the rising tide of violence against women. She says further legislative measures and serious efforts should be made to protect women from the so-called ‘honour’ killings and other forms of gender-based violence.

Chairperson of the Punjab Women Protection Authority, Hina Parvez Butt, says she is committed to addressing gender-based violence. She says that the authority is working diligently to implement the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. “Our goal is to create a society where every woman is empowered and protected against all forms of crime or maltreatment,” she says.

“Violence against women is unacceptable in any form. Our mission is to foster a safe and supportive environment where women thrive and have no fear. Through comprehensive policies, robust support systems and community engagement, we aim to eliminate violence and promote empowerment at every level,” she says.

Butt says that she is in close contact with the police for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in crimes against women in Faisalabad. “I have visited the city and met with the survivors. We will ensure that justice is served,” she says.

The alarming rise in gender-based violence across Punjab, especially in Faisalabad, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and collective action. It is clear that stronger legal frameworks; stricter enforcement; and community engagement are essential. Public awareness campaigns, education and support systems must be expanded to empower the victims to speak out and break the cycle of violence.

The writer has been associated with journalism for the past decade. He tweets @ naeemahmad876