Karachi man gets 50-year jail term for minor girl rape

A local court has handed Shahbaz alias Shabi a total of 50 years in prison for raping, abducting, and threatening a 15-year-old girl.

Two recent cases of rape and violence against women have come to light in Karachi, highlighting the ongoing struggle for women’s safety in Pakistan. In the first case, a court has imposed a fine of Rs1.65 million on Shahbaz, a convict found guilty of raping a young girl in June 2021. The accused had tricked the victim into accompanying him by claiming her father was being attacked. He then drugged her, took her to an undisclosed location, and raped her along with two accomplices. The victim’s father lodged a complaint with the Brigade police station, and the prosecution successfully proved the charges against Shahbaz.

In a more recent case, Karachi police arrested Muhammad Huzaif, a suspect in connection with the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl in the Khokhrapar area. The incident occurred on July 11, 2025, and a DNA match led to Huzaif’s arrest on July 30, 2025. During interrogation, Huzaif confessed to the crime, stating that the victim had come to his house inquiring about his sister when the house was empty. He has been sent to jail following a court appearance. These cases underscore the need for greater protection and support for women in Pakistan. According to the Women Action Forum, 2564 cases of gender-based violence were reported in Sindh between 2021 and 2024, highlighting the prevalence of violence against women in the country.¹

The cases also highlight the importance of effective law enforcement and justice systems in addressing crimes against women. The National Commission of Human Rights report notes that 90% of women in Pakistan face some form of domestic violence in their lifetime, and only 0.4% of them seek justice.