ISLAMABAD:
Senators on Friday expressed deep concern over the rising incidence of violent crimes against women, demanding stricter enforcement and better convictions after the brutal killing of a woman in Sindh, allegedly in the name of “honour”, triggered outrage in the upper house.
The debate was sparked by the murder of Rubina Chandio in Tando Masti, Sindh, as lawmakers condemned a persistent culture of impunity surrounding gender-based violence.
Presiding over the session, PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman said the conviction rate in such cases stood at just 5 per cent, adding that it was an alarming reflection of systemic failure.
The issue was raised by Balochistan Senator Naseema Ehsan, who drew attention to the circumstances of Chandio’s murder.
“Rubina Chandio was killed in Sindh. She was not given a funeral or a shroud,” Ehsan told the Senate, adding that the woman was shot dead in front of a crowd and the matter came to light after videos of the incident surfaced on social media.
“The culprits involved in this brutal murder should also be publicly hanged,” she said.
Calling the situation “deeply distressing and unacceptable”, Rehman said Pakistan was witnessing a “dangerous rise in honor killings, rape and other forms of gender-based violence”.
“The surge in these cases is deeply worrying. We cannot allow such brutality to become normalized,” she said.
She said the 5 per cent conviction rate was “an extremely alarming situation”.
“When justice is delivered sporadically, it reflects a systemic failure,” she said, adding that while the legislative framework exists, “what is lacking is implementation with determination and consistency.”
Rehman also objected to the assumption that such crimes were limited to poor or isolated communities.
“These crimes also occur within influential households. Wealth, status and education do not erase patriarchal thinking – they often provide stronger networks of silence and protection,” she said.
Calling for sustained institutional oversight, she said such cases must be “continuously and rigorously examined by the Senate Committee on Human Rights.”
“Real deterrence will only come when a few perpetrators become indisputable examples,” she added.
Acting in her capacity as chairperson, Rehman referred the Rubina Chandio case to the Senate Human Rights Committee for immediate consideration.
Responding to the debate, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry assured the lawmakers of the government’s support in pursuing accountability.
