Shadows of Justice: Gang rape and Honour Killings Against Women in Pakistan

Violence against women in Pakistan, notably gang rape, entrenched rape culture, and honour killings, continued to expose profound social fractures, institutional failures, and a justice system struggling to hold perpetrators accountable. In 2022, the year unfolded with shocking cases that captivated national attention and generated both outrage and weary resignation, highlighting the limitations of legal reforms in confronting deeply entrenched patriarchal norms.

Early in the year, a harrowing case from Sargodha drew widespread condemnation. A twenty-eight-year-old woman, gang-raped by four men, was shot dead by her own brother in what he claimed was an attempt to defend the family’s “honour.” The original rape, allegedly filmed by the perpetrators, had led to the registration of a first information report, yet the suspects were granted interim bail before any meaningful police action could be taken. Authorities later arrested the brother as he attempted to murder the alleged rapists. The case underscored not only the brutality of gender-based violence but also the glaring failures of local law enforcement to protect survivors and pursue justice in a timely manner.

Such incidents did not emerge in isolation. Official data from 2022 indicates that thousands of cases of violence against women were recorded in Punjab alone. Lahore reported the highest number of rape cases, while hundreds of honour killings were also documented. Despite official records, many of these cases ended in acquittals or unresolved prosecutions, perpetuating public distrust in the judicial system. Conviction rates for rape remain alarmingly low, and the pervasive social stigma frequently discourages victims from seeking legal redress.

Compounding the crisis is the persistence of cultural and judicial practices that further victimize women. In a widely reported December 2022 case, a Peshawar court freed a man sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a deaf relative after the survivor’s family agreed to an “out-of-court settlement,” facilitated by a jirga, or council of elders. The arrangement, which reportedly included the marriage of rapist and victim, sparked outrage among activists, who argued that such settlements effectively legitimized rape and reinforced patriarchal norms that treat women as property rather than rights-bearing individuals.

While these crimes unfolded domestically, some cases resonated internationally, highlighting the lethal consequences of honour-based violence. The disappearance and murder of Saman Abbas, a young Pakistani woman in Italy, symbolized this transnational dimension. Found dead in 2022 after defying an arranged marriage, her case eventually led to life sentences for her parents and two cousins. It drew global attention to the deadly intersection of gender, autonomy, and rigid cultural expectations, illustrating the catastrophic toll such norms can exact on women’s lives.

Beyond individual tragedies, broader patterns painted a sobering picture. Human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Sustainable Social Development Organisation, documented hundreds of honour killings in 2022, with many more believed unreported. Families frequently justified these killings as necessary to preserve social reputation, yet activists have highlighted that these rationales mask systemic patriarchal control over women’s bodies, choices, and freedom.

Across the country, survivors of sexual violence and relatives of victims lament chronic delays in police investigations, the reliance on jirgas and local mediators, and judicial loopholes that allow perpetrators to escape accountability. Despite legal frameworks, including the Criminal Law Amendment Act designed to toughen penalties for honour killings and rape, enforcement remained inconsistent. Police and prosecutors were frequently accused of minimal engagement with survivors, slow case progression, and a failure to pursue influential suspects who leveraged social, political, and familial connections to evade justice.

The cumulative effect of these failures is stark. Women and girls continue to live under the dual burdens of pervasive violence and a justice system often indifferent to their plight. Public outcry following high-profile cases has forced national debate on the urgent need for cultural transformation and more robust legal enforcement. Yet for many families directly affected by gang rape and honour violence in 2022, justice remains elusive, fragile, and often a matter of chance rather than certainty.