Interior Ministry Reports 567 Sexual Abuse Cases, 200 Children Victims in Islamabad Since 2021

Between January 2021 and June 2025, Islamabad recorded 567 cases of sexual abuse, with 200 involving children, according to Pakistan's Interior Ministry. Of the child abuse victims, 93 were boys and 108 were girls, and despite the arrest of 222 accused individuals, only 12 have been convicted, while 163 remain on trial and 26 suspects are still at large. Conviction rates for sexual abuse cases remain low overall, with 80 convictions out of 485 cases challaned, and many cases still pending trial or investigation. Additionally, 266 cases of missing children were reported in Islamabad from 2022 to 2025, with 135 arrests but only two convictions, and many accused still awaiting trial. Civil society reports highlight a nationwide child abuse crisis, with 3,364 cases documented across Pakistan in 2024, and recent high-profile incidents, including arrests related to molestation and child exploitation gangs, have drawn public attention. The 2019 Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Bill was enacted to expedite investigations and punishments following past national outrage over child abuse cases.