ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on Human Rights was informed on Saturday that out of all the cities in Punjab, Lahore saw the highest number of child rape cases in 2016-17.

According to a report submitted in the Senate body, Lahore saw 107 cases of child rape while the highest number of child abuse cases were reported in 2017.

In two years, 1,297 cases of child rape were reported in Punjab; out of these, 66 cases were reported in Kasur, 38 in Sheikhupura, 50 in Khushab. Out of of the total number, 252 were cases of sexual assault against girls while 1,045 were cases of sexual assault against boys.

According to the report, at least 43 children were murdered after being subjected to sexual assault in Punjab; out of these, three children were murdered in Lahore.

The police arrested 1,446 suspects. However, only 21 were sentenced and 166 suspects were set free due to lack of evidence against them, the report stated.

This report was submitted in the wake of increasing number of child rape reports that have come to light after 7-year-old Zainab’s body was found from a heap trash on Jan 9. The girl was kidnapped from her neighbourhood on Jan 4. She was raped and later murdered.