Pakistan rape case turns harsh spotlight on misogyny, justice system

Experts call for drastic legal reforms and better police training

20230224 women in ISLAMABAD

A school for young women in Islamabad: Activists say over 5,000 rapes were reported in the country in 2021, and that the conviction rate for such crimes is less than 3%. © Getty Images

ADNAN AAMIR, Contributing writer

ISLAMABAD -- A rape case in Islamabad and the killing of the alleged assailants by the police have provoked renewed scrutiny of the rights of Pakistani women and flaws in the nation's justice system.

On Feb. 2, a young woman out for an evening walk with a friend was beaten and sexually assaulted at gunpoint by two men in Fatima Jinnah Park, the largest park in the capital. The attack sparked an uproar on social media and protests by women's advocacy groups.

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