FAISALABAD – A total of 97 women and girls have been reportedly subjected to gang-rape in Faisalabad district during the first 11 months of this year, official statistics reveal. Last year, 80 cases were registered in the district.
According to police data, the 97 gang-rape cases were distributed across various divisions: 12 in Lyallpur Town, 23 in Iqbal Town, 27 in Madina Town, 15 in Jaranwala, and 20 in Saddar Division.
Out of 297 accused, authorities arrested 145 individuals, while 66 were declared innocent. However, nine cases were dismissed, 10 remain under investigation, and 15 are pending due to delays in DNA testing. Despite these efforts, no suspect has been convicted in court this year.
In one recent incident, Mohammad Riaz reported that his 22-year-old daughter, living with Ijaz Ali in Noor Pur, was allegedly gang-raped after fainting from lassi served at a friend’s house near Al-Noor Executive Main Gate. Police arrested the three accused following raids conducted under the guidance of City Police Officer Sahibzada Bilal Umar. DNA testing of victims and suspects was carried out before submission of challans to court.
Police officials stated that delays in DNA report processing, which often take up to six months instead of the usual three, have significantly slowed prosecution. This has contributed to the lack of convictions despite strict investigations.
SSP Investigation Nasir Mehmood Bajwa said a dedicated SSIO unit has been established in Faisalabad to handle gang-rape cases efficiently. He confirmed that challans for 34 cases have been submitted to courts, while evidence collection for remaining cases is ongoing.
Human rights organizations highlight a troubling trend. HRCP Complaint Officer Anila Ashraf reported that 1,042 gang-rape cases were registered across Punjab this year, including 97 in Faisalabad alone. Senior lawyer Owais Manawar Randhawa noted that reporting has increased since women officers were deployed in the SSIO unit.
Authorities emphasize that every case will be addressed on merit, with full evidence compiled, while urging improvements in forensic and judicial processes to ensure justice for victims.
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This growing concern calls for stronger legal enforcement, faster DNA processing, and societal awareness to curb rising gang-rape incidents in the district and across the province.
