Low Conviction Rates in Crimes Against Women: Analyzing Pakistan’s Investigative Challenges

Abstract

This paper explores Pakistan's low conviction rates for crimes against women, highlighting procedural, logistical, structural, and legal obstacles. Despite campaigning and legislative initiatives, conviction rates remain low due to structural inadequacies and social impediments. The study aims to explain why convictions are uncommon and proposes workable, rational, and legal ways to improve the situation. The goals include assessing the suitability of existing legal frameworks, identifying practical obstacles for law enforcement, and proposing systemic changes to enhance conviction rates and improve the handling of crimes against women in Pakistan. This qualitative study looks at Pakistan's poor conviction rates for crimes against women. To find structural problems, it examines case law, statutes, and crime data. Firsthand information on the challenges faced during investigation and prosecution may be obtained through interviews with judges, attorneys, police officers, and victims. Procedure flaws and practical obstacles are found through field inspections at police stations and courts. By comprehending the intricate factors driving low conviction rates, this strategy aids in the design of focused therapies to enhance victims' legal outcomes. The study reveals procedural flaws and systemic issues in Pakistan's pre-trial phases of violence against women litigation, including evidence preservation failures, delayed complaint filings, false information, lack of witness cooperation, and inconsistent medical documentation, contributing to low conviction rates. The research suggests revising legal frameworks, enhancing police training, establishing independent oversight bodies, leveraging advanced technologies, and promoting gender-sensitive investigative approaches as proposed solutions to address these issues and move toward justice for women in Pakistan.