Violence against women in Pakistan is not merely a social problem — it is structurally embedded in the country's institutions, upheld by Jirgas that the state tolerates and reinforced by media narratives that normalise abuse, according to a report by the Pakistan Observer. The findings, published in June 2025, paint a damning picture of systemic impunity that leaves women across Pakistan vulnerable and unprotected.

Systemic Impunity and Judicial Failure

'The normalisation of abuse reflects hostility toward female autonomy. Punitive measures alone cannot dismantle this system… International obligations lose significance when justice is replaced by silence. Low conviction rates, state reluctance to confront Jirgas and media complicity sustain impunity, leaving women vulnerable and unprotected,' the report stated.

The judiciary's role has come under sharp scrutiny. In January 2026, Pakistan's Supreme Court reduced a rape conviction to fornication, cutting a 20-year sentence to five years and lowering the associated fine — a ruling the report described as emblematic of 'systemic reluctance to confront gender-based violence.' Conviction rates for domestic violence, rape, and honour killings remain in the low single digits, while abductions see a dismal 0.1 per cent conviction rate. 'The judiciary's failure is not incidental; it is structural, reflecting a broader reluctance to challenge patriarchal norms and tribal authority,' the report noted.

Key Incidents That Exposed the Crisis

The report draws on a series of high-profile cases to illustrate the scale of the problem. On 5 June, young physician Mahnoor Narsir was attacked with acid by a staff member at Quetta's civil hospital. 'This was not merely an assault; it was a grave act of gender-based violence and workplace insecurity, emblematic of the perilous conditions women face in Pakistan,' the report said.

In June 2025, TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf was shot dead in her Islamabad home, hours after celebrating her 17th birthday. In 2021, Noor Mukadam was beheaded by her boyfriend after rejecting his marriage proposal — an incident that sparked nationwide outrage and briefly renewed calls for legislative reform.

Among the most harrowing cases cited was the execution in July 2025 of a young couple, Ehsan Samalani and Bano Satakzai, killed for contracting a love marriage without family approval. A video from Quetta went viral showing Bano's final words in Brahvi — 'You are allowed to shoot me, but nothing more than that' — spoken moments before she was shot dead by her own brother, after her husband was also killed.

The Scale in Numbers

The data underscores the breadth of the crisis. Approximately 1,000 women are murdered annually in Pakistan in the name of honour, with 405 cases officially recorded in 2024 alone — a figure the report notes is likely a significant undercount, with many deaths erased by tribal allegiance and societal complicity.

In 2025, the organisation Sahil recorded 7,071 gender-based violence cases nationwide — a 34 per cent increase from the previous year. These included 1,546 murders, 1,345 abductions, 1,169 torture cases, 877 rapes, 680 suicides, 449 injuries, 316 harassment cases, 284 honour killings, and 41 acid attacks. Acquaintances were responsible for 32 per cent of cases, strangers for 18 per cent, and husbands for 12 per cent.

Pakistan's Standing on Global Gender Indices

Pakistan ranks 148th in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025, with literacy parity remaining below 75 per cent and economic participation continuing to deteriorate. The combination of weak institutions, a compliant media, and a judiciary reluctant to challenge tribal authority means the structural conditions sustaining violence remain largely intact.

Unless the state moves to actively dismantle Jirga authority and establish independent accountability mechanisms, analysts warn, the numbers are unlikely to improve.