Express Tribune Editorials 24th Feb 2025
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:25 am
GBV and low conviction rate
Pakistan continues to endure a surge in cases of sexual abuse, particularly against women and children. While a lot of factors are responsible for this alarming rise in gender-based violence (GBV) in the country, it is the abominably low conviction rate that has emboldened perpetrators and deterred victims from coming forward and reporting their ordeal. However, recent convictions by the lower courts in Karachi and Rawalpindi indicate an encouraging shift.
Within the past week, two men were convicted of child molestation charges in separate cases. Raja Muhammad Shoaib was convicted of raping his niece and was sentenced to life imprisonment along with a Rs500,000 fine, while Muneer Ahmed was convicted of raping a minor boy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison along with a Rs100,000 fine. These verdicts have come in a social climate where, according to recent surveys by various NGOs, a woman and a child is raped every two hours – while the rate of conviction for sexual crimes stands at a shocking 0.2%.
In 2019, the federal government established over 1,000 special courts to deal with violence against women. Only last year, a court also delivered a landmark ruling in a marital rape case and sentenced a man to three years in prison. While the legal system set an important precedent, the landmark case also highlighted a critical question – why now and what now? Legal reparations for crimes against women and minors have long been overdue, and a systemic imbalance of power still exists between these criminals and their victims. Conviction rates are heavily impacted by cultural notions of 'shame' and 'purity', with families often pressuring victims to remain silent in order to protect their honour. The recent convictions, while commendable, must become part of a broader systematic change – one that enables a culture of speaking up about sexual violence, and holds its perpetrators accountable through criminal trials.
Ghost teachers
For decades, Sindh's public education system has suffered due to the menace of ghost teachers — those who continue to receive salaries despite being permanently absent from schools. Now, the provincial government has issued a final 15-day notice to 5,000 such teachers, warning them to return to work or face dismissal. While this is a long-overdue step, it is not nearly enough. The real problem is not just their absence. It is the system that has allowed them to exploit public resources for years with impunity.
Calling them back will not fix the damage done. Sindh must go beyond leniency and enforce strict action to root out this malpractice once and for all. At present, 63,628 teachers are actively employed in Sindh, while thousands of qualified candidates remain on waiting lists, unable to secure jobs. Why should non-serious individuals be given another chance when more deserving and dedicated educators are eager to serve? The only logical course of action is immediate termination for those who fail to report within the given deadline. But dismissals alone will fall short. These ghost teachers must be held accountable.
The government should initiate legal proceedings to recover salaries paid to them during their unauthorised absence and ensure they are permanently barred from future government employment. To prevent such negligence in the future, the education department must implement stronger oversight mechanisms. Biometric attendance systems and regular audits should become mandatory across all public schools. Additionally, a transparent and merit-based recruitment system must be enforced to prevent political appointments that lead to inefficiency and corruption.
Sindh's education sector cannot afford such malpractice. Every classroom in the province should be led by teachers who are present, accountable and committed to their profession.
Leap forward to Dhaka
The change of heart in Bangladesh has opened new vistas of cooperation for Pakistan. For the first time in their chequered history, the two nations – realising the necessity to reconnect – are busy exploring new grounds of cooperation. The fact that they have kick-started trade and commerce during the last six months, since the dismissal of the Awami League government in August 2024, is a good omen. This is a milestone in their otherwise estranged ties and must take a leap forward in cementing new horizons of amalgamation.
It is, likewise, going to be a momentous turn of history as a PNSC vessel will dock on a Bangladeshi port. Dhaka has bought 50,000 tonnes of rice from Islamabad, and the same will be shipped in two consignments. Pakistan is fortunate to have a trade surplus with Bangladesh – amid exports to the tune of $500 million – thereby possessing a great leverage of furthering it in many such products that are manufactured cheaply at home.
The enthusiasm with which Pakistani private airlines are interested in flying to Dhaka and Chittagong is momentous, and needs to be endorsed and facilitated. Last but not least, the two sides should to buoy maritime cooperation as there is a lot of sea-borne activity that can bring dividends to their respective industries.
Another breakthrough that has been witnessed is easing of visa regulations, and Bangladeshi authorities are kind enough to offer special facilities at trade and commerce channels. This is an epoch-making moment, and should be emulated by other neighbours of Pakistan which unnecessarily nurse vendetta and believe in obstructing geo-economics on politicised whims and wishes.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have a long way to go, and are in need of tapping new horizons in literature, culture and history. One of the fundamental areas that will be of great help to Pakistan is benefitting from Bangladesh's intellectual corridors through student interaction, and intermingling of academia. Coming together of these communities by burying the hatchet is indispensable.
Pakistan continues to endure a surge in cases of sexual abuse, particularly against women and children. While a lot of factors are responsible for this alarming rise in gender-based violence (GBV) in the country, it is the abominably low conviction rate that has emboldened perpetrators and deterred victims from coming forward and reporting their ordeal. However, recent convictions by the lower courts in Karachi and Rawalpindi indicate an encouraging shift.
Within the past week, two men were convicted of child molestation charges in separate cases. Raja Muhammad Shoaib was convicted of raping his niece and was sentenced to life imprisonment along with a Rs500,000 fine, while Muneer Ahmed was convicted of raping a minor boy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison along with a Rs100,000 fine. These verdicts have come in a social climate where, according to recent surveys by various NGOs, a woman and a child is raped every two hours – while the rate of conviction for sexual crimes stands at a shocking 0.2%.
In 2019, the federal government established over 1,000 special courts to deal with violence against women. Only last year, a court also delivered a landmark ruling in a marital rape case and sentenced a man to three years in prison. While the legal system set an important precedent, the landmark case also highlighted a critical question – why now and what now? Legal reparations for crimes against women and minors have long been overdue, and a systemic imbalance of power still exists between these criminals and their victims. Conviction rates are heavily impacted by cultural notions of 'shame' and 'purity', with families often pressuring victims to remain silent in order to protect their honour. The recent convictions, while commendable, must become part of a broader systematic change – one that enables a culture of speaking up about sexual violence, and holds its perpetrators accountable through criminal trials.
Ghost teachers
For decades, Sindh's public education system has suffered due to the menace of ghost teachers — those who continue to receive salaries despite being permanently absent from schools. Now, the provincial government has issued a final 15-day notice to 5,000 such teachers, warning them to return to work or face dismissal. While this is a long-overdue step, it is not nearly enough. The real problem is not just their absence. It is the system that has allowed them to exploit public resources for years with impunity.
Calling them back will not fix the damage done. Sindh must go beyond leniency and enforce strict action to root out this malpractice once and for all. At present, 63,628 teachers are actively employed in Sindh, while thousands of qualified candidates remain on waiting lists, unable to secure jobs. Why should non-serious individuals be given another chance when more deserving and dedicated educators are eager to serve? The only logical course of action is immediate termination for those who fail to report within the given deadline. But dismissals alone will fall short. These ghost teachers must be held accountable.
The government should initiate legal proceedings to recover salaries paid to them during their unauthorised absence and ensure they are permanently barred from future government employment. To prevent such negligence in the future, the education department must implement stronger oversight mechanisms. Biometric attendance systems and regular audits should become mandatory across all public schools. Additionally, a transparent and merit-based recruitment system must be enforced to prevent political appointments that lead to inefficiency and corruption.
Sindh's education sector cannot afford such malpractice. Every classroom in the province should be led by teachers who are present, accountable and committed to their profession.
Leap forward to Dhaka
The change of heart in Bangladesh has opened new vistas of cooperation for Pakistan. For the first time in their chequered history, the two nations – realising the necessity to reconnect – are busy exploring new grounds of cooperation. The fact that they have kick-started trade and commerce during the last six months, since the dismissal of the Awami League government in August 2024, is a good omen. This is a milestone in their otherwise estranged ties and must take a leap forward in cementing new horizons of amalgamation.
It is, likewise, going to be a momentous turn of history as a PNSC vessel will dock on a Bangladeshi port. Dhaka has bought 50,000 tonnes of rice from Islamabad, and the same will be shipped in two consignments. Pakistan is fortunate to have a trade surplus with Bangladesh – amid exports to the tune of $500 million – thereby possessing a great leverage of furthering it in many such products that are manufactured cheaply at home.
The enthusiasm with which Pakistani private airlines are interested in flying to Dhaka and Chittagong is momentous, and needs to be endorsed and facilitated. Last but not least, the two sides should to buoy maritime cooperation as there is a lot of sea-borne activity that can bring dividends to their respective industries.
Another breakthrough that has been witnessed is easing of visa regulations, and Bangladeshi authorities are kind enough to offer special facilities at trade and commerce channels. This is an epoch-making moment, and should be emulated by other neighbours of Pakistan which unnecessarily nurse vendetta and believe in obstructing geo-economics on politicised whims and wishes.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have a long way to go, and are in need of tapping new horizons in literature, culture and history. One of the fundamental areas that will be of great help to Pakistan is benefitting from Bangladesh's intellectual corridors through student interaction, and intermingling of academia. Coming together of these communities by burying the hatchet is indispensable.