In 2024, the nation bore witness to a deeply disturbing surge in violence, a grim reminder of the dark undercurrents running through our society. The officially reported crime statistics for the year reveal numbers that are not just alarming, but heart-wrenching: a total of 11,074 murders, 2,142 cases of gang rape, 4,472 cases of Zina, and 34,688 cases of kidnapping/abduction were recorded nationwide. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent lives shattered, futures stolen, and families torn apart.
The province of Punjab stood as the epicenter of this crisis, reporting the highest number of cases across every category. With 4,908 murders—more than 40% of the total murders across Pakistan—Punjab’s tragic toll cannot be ignored. In every corner of the province, the brutality of violence seemed to have no bounds, with lives lost to senseless acts of murder. Kidnappings and abductions were also rampant in Punjab, accounting for a staggering 28,702 cases. Each of these abductions tells the story of a child, a woman, a man—a loved one—who vanished, leaving their families to grapple with the agonizing uncertainty of their fates.
Equally disturbing is the heartbreaking reality of gang rape cases. In 2024, 2,142 victims were forced to endure this horrific violation of their bodies and dignity. Punjab alone reported 2,046 cases, which is almost the total number reported across the rest of the country combined. The federal capital of Islamabad, perhaps most shockingly, reported more gang rape cases than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit Baltistan combined. The fact that Islamabad, a city that is meant to be a symbol of governance and justice, became a hub for such heinous crimes is a stark reflection of how deeply the roots of violence have infiltrated our society.
The statistics on Zina—illegal sexual relations outside of marriage—paint a similarly grim picture. 4,472 cases were recorded nationwide, with Punjab leading again. While the pain of these acts cannot be fully captured in numbers, the sheer scale of the issue demands urgent attention. The victims of these crimes live with the scars, both physical and psychological, that may never heal.
The reports of kidnappings and abductions are another gut-wrenching reminder of how far-reaching the impact of these crimes is. 34,688 cases across Pakistan in 2024—a horrifying tally that represents the abduction of people from all walks of life. It is deeply troubling that Punjab alone reported more than 28,000 of these cases. Behind each number is a child, a woman, a man—someone’s beloved family member—taken without mercy.
While violence seemed to permeate every aspect of life in Punjab, the province of Sindh also witnessed disturbing levels of crime, with 3,444 murders and 4,331 kidnappings. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not spared either, with 1,826 murders and 533 abductions. Balochistan, despite its smaller population, reported 528 murders and 406 kidnappings—proof that no region is immune to the violence that plagues our society.
In a world where we yearn for peace and justice, these numbers reflect a stark and tragic reality. The lives that were lost in 2024, the countless victims whose stories have yet to be fully told, will forever haunt us unless we choose to take action. The time has come for each one of us to demand change, to ensure that the pain and suffering endured by these innocent victims is not in vain.
As we look ahead, let us remember that these crimes are not just numbers on a page. They are tragedies that have destroyed lives, families, and communities. The question now is not just about what the authorities will do, but what each of us will do to bring about a society where such violence is no longer an unthinkable reality.