Violence against women rattles MPs

Senators on Friday expressed deep concern over the rising incidence of violent crimes against women, demanding tougher enforcement and improved 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 killing of Rubina Chandio in Sindh's Tando Masti 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 only five 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 surrounding Chandio's killing. "Rubina Chandio was killed in Sindh. She was given neither a funeral nor a shroud," Ehsan told the Senate, adding that the woman was shot in front of a crowd and the case came to light after videos of the incident circulated on social media. "The culprits involved in this brutal murder should also be hanged publicly," she said. Calling the situation "deeply distressing and unacceptable", Rehman said Pakistan was witnessing a "dangerous surge in honour killings, rape, and other forms of gender-based violence". "The surge in these cases is deeply concerning. We cannot allow such brutality to become normalised," she said. She said the reported five per cent conviction rate was "an extremely alarming state of affairs". "When justice is delivered sporadically, it reflects a systemic failure," she said, adding that while the legislative framework existed, "what is missing is implementation with resolve and consistency". Rehman also pushed back against the assumption that such crimes were confined to impoverished or remote communities. "These crimes also occur within influential households. Wealth, status, and education do not erase patriarchal thinking - often, they provide stronger networks of silence and protection," she said. Urging sustained institutional oversight, she said such cases must be "continuously and rigorously taken up by the Senate Human Rights Committee". "True deterrence will only come when a few perpetrators are made unquestionable examples," she added. Acting in her capacity as presiding officer, Rehman referred the Rubina Chandio case to the Senate Human Rights Committee for immediate review. Responding to the debate, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry assured lawmakers of the government's support in pursuing accountability.

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