WHILE providing free legal aid to a gang rape victim namely-F —a GCU student—under the Free Legal Services Project of Sandhu Law Firm Int’l for the registration of an FIR regarding the alleged incident, I, as a criminal lawyer and human rights activist, accompanied the victim to the Women Police Station, Race Course, Lahore.

As an eyewitness to various events that unfolded in a short span of time, I observed several flaws in Pakistan’s criminal justice system that pose serious threats to human rights, as protected by the UDHR, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Constitution of Pakistan (1973).

Firstly, most cases of harassment and sexual abuse go unreported due to the socio-cultural norms and values of our society.

Victims are often reluctant to report such incidents, fearing hurdles in their marital and professional lives over time, as well as concerns about bringing embarrassment to their families.

Consequently, these cases either remain unreported or are reported with significant delay.

Recognizing these societal realities and parental responses to harassment and sexual abuse cases, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, highlighted in his judgment the justification for delayed FIRs in such cases.

Similarly, in this instance, the victim (F) reported the occurrence........

© Pakistan Observer