Rape cases conviction rate ‘alarmingly low’

ISLAMABAD: Legislators in the Senate Tuesday were alarmed by ‘abysmally low’ conviction rate in rape cases in the federal capital from January 1, 2021 to June 20, 2025.

During the Question-Hour, Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi informed the House through a written reply as per reports obtained from all police stations of Islamabad through Zonal Superintendent of Police, during this period, a total of 567 cases of rape were registered and 625 accused arrested.

It was informed out of 567 cases, 485 cases were challaned, 80 accused were convicted, 23 accused were acquitted and accused in 406 cases are still facing trial in the competent courts. Moreover, 29 cases are under investigation and will be concluded as soon as possible.

However, Shahadat Awan, who had asked the question in writing, pointed out while the written reply mentioned 567 rape cases were registered till June 2025, but in the annex given in the written reply, total number of registered cases was 466, including those regarding missing children.

The House was told there were 200 registered cases of sexual abuse, of these male victims were 92 and female 108. 180 were challaned, whereas 12 criminals were convicted.

Similarly, there were a total of 266 registered cases of missing children, of these cases 107 were challaned and two criminals were convicted so far.

Minister for State for Interior Talal Chaudhry apologised for the typo, but insisted conviction ratio was slightly better than in the provinces. He also said conviction was the job of courts.

He said due to deterrence, there had been 15 percent reduction in rape and missing child cases this year. Senator Awan and Danesh Kumar wanted increase in conviction rate to put check on such abdominal acts in the federal capital. “If such is the situation in the federal capital, then one can imagine what is happening in the provinces”, they contended.

PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Ali Zafar suggested the matter should be referred to House standing committee to assist and review the cases and find out loopholes in them to speed up convictions.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said a similar matter was referred to the House standing committee a day earlier. There were a number of legal experts, who are present in the committee and they would be handy on how to further improve investigation, conviction and access to justice efforts of the government, he said.

To another question, Minister of State for Interior told the House internal accountability within Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had been strengthened and between 2022 and 2024, 51 FIA officials were dismissed from service due to their involvement in human trafficking and fake documentation.

The minister noted dismissals were accompanied by criminal proceedings, with 63 officials nominated, 44 arrested and 16 acquitted, whereas appeals against those acquittals have also been filed in high courts.

He explained 18 cases were currently under investigation, six had reached the final challan stage, while four were at the interim stage. He noted Prime Minister and Interior Minister were personally monitoring the matter, ensuring involvement of all relevant ministries.