PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has emerged as an alarmingly unsafe province for women, with a disturbing rise in cases of violence reported over the past year. From January to December 2024, a total of 2,243 incidents involving domestic violence, attempted murder, honor killings, acid attacks, harassment, sexual assault, and rape were officially registered — yet not a single woman received justice.
Documents received by Pakhtunkhwa Digital reveal that 4,660 individuals were accused in cases related to violence against women. Of these, 3,199 were arrested. However, due to weak investigations and prosecution, no convictions were secured. The police records also show that 126 women were violently murdered and 92 were severely beaten, while six cases involved acid attacks or the burning of women.
The data further shows that 95 women were killed in the name of honor and 178 were subjected to rape. Gang rape incidents involving four women were also reported, painting a horrifying picture of the risks women face. Additionally, 62 cases of kidnapping were filed, alongside the abduction of 673 women. In other disturbing instances, 66 girls were forced into degrading acts such as gagging, and six girls were reportedly pushed into forced marriages.
Read also: Haripur police arrest suspect involved in harassing, blackmailing woman
Police say investigations are still ongoing against 364 suspects, including 21 accused of murder, 16 of attempted murder, 38 of physical violence, and one involved in the burning of a woman. In 24 reported cases, the families of victims were allegedly forced to settle with the accused, further weakening any chance of justice.
Women’s rights organisations argue that the actual number of cases is far higher than reported, as many women remain silent due to the social stigma, fear of retaliation, and lack of confidence in the justice system. They stress that patriarchal dominance in society, combined with judicial inaction, discourages victims from coming forward, while the absence of consequences continues to embolden perpetrators.
As violence against women escalates in the province with no convictions to date, the data raises urgent concerns about the effectiveness of the legal and law enforcement systems in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — and the safety of women across the region.
