Islamabad: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights expressed grave concern on Monday over the performance of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in curbing the rapid rise of rape, sexual harassment, and gender based violence across the country. Presided over by Member of National Assembly (MNA) Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, the parliamentary body strongly censured police authorities for procedural delays and negligence that have repeatedly allowed perpetrators to evade prosecution and punishment.

During the session, the committee reviewed progress on several high profile incidents, including the brutal murders of Hina Javed and Ayat Noor, as well as the harassment case involving Dr Ayesha. Members expressed deep annoyance that the culprits in these cases remain unpenalised due to lapses in the investigation process. To rectify these failures, the panel directed the Ministry of Interior to pursue the cases effectively in court to ensure the suspects are brought to justice without further delay.

To ensure long term accountability, the committee instructed government functionaries to enforce existing human rights legislation strictly and establish seamless operational linkages between law enforcement bodies and relevant government departments. Furthermore, the parliamentary panel requested local parliamentarians in the affected areas to coordinate directly with investigating agencies, ensuring transparent oversight and the timely resolution of gender based crime cases.