Summary Faisalabad, Rahim Yar Khan and Vehari are highest reporting districts.
ISLAMABAD (Online) - FAFEN has cited a high increase in ‘forced marriages’ registering 324 cases in February to 403 in May 2013; an increase of 24%, with Faisalabad leading with 43 cases.
A report released on Thursday by Free and Fair Election (FAFEN) cites that the other highest reporting districts of ‘this crime’ include Rahim Yar Khan (39 cases) and Vehari (31).
FAFEN governance monitors visiting 88 offices of district police officers in May , reported a total of 985 FIRs of crimes relating to women, around one-fifth (219) of which were related to rape, up 46% compared to February when 150 such cases were recorded.
Moreover, 21% were cases of attack on modesty, 3% of honor killings and 2% of insult to modesty.
A total of 33,705 cases were recorded in 88 districts during the reporting Month, Two fifths of which crimes pertained to property and one-fifth of crimes involving physical harm. Six percent were of threat and fraud crimes and 2% of crimes committed against women.
Out of 7,104 cases of crimes pertained to property, 38% were of theft in 67 districts, with Lahore leading (597 cases), distantly followed by district Malir (270) and Faisalabad (238).
21% cases related to robbery and dacoity, 20% of motor vehicle lifting and 11% of motor vehicle snatching. Eight percent were cases of extortion.
There were 4,279 cases of physical harm of which hurt was the most frequent (46% of the total physical harm cases) and murder the most widely reported (76 districts). 22% of the total cases in the category were those of murder and 24% were of attempted murder.
2,025 FIRs were filed for threat and fraud crimes, with more than half of these relating to counterfeiting currency, followed by 18% of criminal breach of trust and 15% of cheating. Seven percent of these cases were of criminal intimidation and offences against public tranquility.
Among regions, the highest number of crime cases was recorded in Punjab (67%) while 16% were in KP, 15% in Sindh and 2% in Balochistan.
A high crime rate in Punjab does not necessarily mean a high crime rate; wider coverage of districts in the region, higher trust of people on the law enforcing agencies and lack of parallel judicial system can be the probable reasons for high crime reportage.
