Gender-based violence has assumed alarming proportions in Pakistan. The country ranks as the sixth most dangerous in the world for women. A recent United Nations report on Asia and Pacific reveals that less than two percent of women who have suffered violence dare to seek help from police, primarily due to the victim-blaming attitude of most police officers.

A significant number of cases go unreported, as a result of which the perpetrators go scot-free. In rural areas, violence targetting women is rarely reported.

Lodging a report with the police following a sexual assault or domestic violence is tough for victims and their families. Many apprehend that the police involvement will aggravate the problem. Survivors of abuse are hesitant since the process of lodging the first information report (FIR) is cumbersome. In many cases, the complainant women face mobility and access restrictions.

Not so long ago, victim blaming by a Lahore capital city police officer in a gang rape case brought disgrace to Pakistan’s police service. Despite the embarrassment, the follow up amounted to lip service and the Police Department took no practical steps to ensure that the mind sets at the police stations change.

The Police Department is dominated by men. Gender stereotypes pervade law-enforcement institutions. It is, therefore, not startling that female representation in the police force is low.

Talking to the The News on Sunday, Amin Ansari, whose seven-year-old daughter was kidnapped, raped and murdered in Kasur, says life has become meaningless for him. While the murderer of his daughter has been executed for the crime, he says, the police need to do a lot more.

“I can never forget the agony I suffered when I first laid eyes on my daughter’s body on that fateful day,” he says. “I have gone through many sleepless nights since,” he adds. Without bringing drastic changes in the present system of justice and police’s overall approach to handling gender-based violence, Ansari says, the desired results will remain elusive.

“It’s high time the government takes necessary steps to implement the law passed in the wake of Zainab’s murder.” He says there is a dire need to change the attitude of police officers towards victims of sexual abuse. He says police officers have to be more sensitive in this regard.

Nida Umer, the Layyah DPO, the only female head of district police in the Punjab, tells a different story. She says after Zainab’s case, a lot has changed with regard to police’s handling of cases of gender-based violence. She says there is a “zero-tolerance” policy with regard to incidents of violence, harassment and abuse against women. Action is being taken against the accused in such crimes, on a priority basis, she says.

Umer says that in collaboration with the Safe City project authorities, a Women Safety App has been launched. It has so far been downloaded by 125,000 women. She says, cyber crime, National Highway, Motorway and other helpline numbers have also been provided in the Women Safety App, and that women can “easily” get help from police in any difficult situation through the app.

The DPO says that the anti-harassment women cells are also functional in all districts of the province for the protection of women. Lady police officials have been appointed as victim support officers in these cells for providing help to women. Anti-harassment cells have registered more than 2,700 cases so far, and over 2,200 accused have been arrested, says Umer.

She says women’s induction in decision-making authoritative roles in the police force is the need of hour. There is evidence that women as leaders and decision-makers in policing can be role models for the community and respond effectively to women’s complainants, she adds. Nevertheless, she says, attracting more women to policing careers is impossible unless there is extensive gender sensitisation and the public image of the police gets an appropriate revamp.

The government’s efforts to effectively address the complaints of women, transgender persons, and other vulnerable members of the society will not have desirable outcomes unless there is greater public awareness. This requires gender sensitisation campaigns and community-level discussions, says the DPO.

The writer is a senior journalist and can be reached at ahsanzia155@gmail.com