LAHORE:
The Punjab Police is preparing to set up a specialized sexual crime investigation unit in the Crime Control Department (CCD) to address delays in investigations and arrests amid a sharp rise in reported cases across the province.
Police sources said the CCD has conducted a province-wide review of existing investigative units and compiled a detailed database of sexual assault cases, including those where suspects are still at large.
Internal assessments revealed that a large number of cases had stalled due to weak coordination, a lack of specialized training and delays in forensic and technical procedures. Under the proposed system, all rape and sexual assault cases, along with the arrest of designated suspects, will be handled by a dedicated CCD-led unit. The unit will rely on modern investigative tools, enhanced data analysis and a centralized command structure to closely monitor each case from registration to arrest.
Official figures show that 13,820 cases of sexual assault were registered across Punjab last year. Lahore recorded the highest number with 1,576 reported incidents involving women and children, followed by Faisalabad with 945 cases, Gujranwala with 789 and Khanewal with 724.
Senior police officials admit that despite the high number of cases reported, many investigations have not resulted in timely arrests, eroding public confidence and prolonging the suffering of survivors. “The new mechanism is aimed at removing procedural bottlenecks and fixing accountability at all levels,” said a senior officer, adding that the CCD unit will coordinate closely with the district police, forensic authorities and prosecutors to ensure faster and more effective action.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, shortly after taking office, repeatedly announced a zero-tolerance policy against sexual abuse, especially those involving women and children. In a series of high-level meetings with senior law enforcement officials, she called for swift, transparent and uncompromising action to ensure justice for victims and to deter offenders.
However, despite these policy declarations, the total number of reported cases of sexual violence has not shown any meaningful decline, pointing to structural weaknesses that go beyond political resolve.
Even when first information reports (FIRs) are filed, many investigations suffer from weak evidence collection, delayed forensic analysis and poor coordination with prosecutors, resulting in low conviction rates.
Recent statistics illustrate the problem: While thousands of sexual assault cases are registered across Punjab every year, only a fraction lead to prosecution claims and even fewer result in convictions. This divide has compounded public frustration and undermined confidence in the criminal justice system.
