Pakistan's crisis of unreported and hidden sexual violence against women and girls has reached alarming levels, according to a senior medical professional who has spent two decades documenting the scale of the problem in the country. Dr Summaiya Syed-Tariq, chief police surgeon for Sindh province, describes an 'unacceptable' surge in tolerance and acceptability of such violence within Pakistani society, with reported cases likely representing only a fraction of the true extent.
Dr Tariq cites recent shocking incidents, including a 64-year-old man who calmly confessed on social media to murdering his 58-year-old wife for refusing him sex. In Quetta, a 29-year-old doctor suffered severe burns after an acid attack by a lift operator. A 17-year-old girl in Jhang died in June after being kidnapped, drugged and gang-raped, while an 18-year-old housemaid in Lahore died from complications related to multiple abortions, having told police she was repeatedly raped by her employer's son and driver.
The challenge of addressing this crisis lies in the widespread practice of disguising violent deaths. Dr Tariq explains that families often claim women have fallen, taken poison or committed suicide, sometimes staging scenes by hanging a scarf to suggest self-harm. The refusal to permit post-mortem examinations is a major hurdle, preventing confirmation of suspected foul play, despite being against the law.
The issue of marital rape is particularly acute, with Dr Tariq noting it is one of the least-reported forms of violence. Victims often only receive attention when brought to hospitals in critical condition, as their accounts are frequently met with disbelief by doctors, police and even courts. The barriers women face in reporting such crimes, coupled with a lack of support, contribute to vast underreporting until situations reach a critical, often fatal, point.
Dr Tariq is working to establish a femicide observatory - believed to be the first of its kind in Pakistan and potentially South Asia. The pioneering initiative aims to monitor and document premeditated killings of women, gathering crucial data necessary for formulating effective policies and interventions to protect women and girls from escalating violence.