There are some crimes that shock a nation so deeply that people never forget them. The motorway rape case was one of those moments.

The attack shocked Pakistan, not only by its brutality but also by the outrage that followed. “The people wanted justice, they wanted someone held accountable, and they wanted a strong message sent that these types of crimes would never be tolerated.”

Thus, when the Lahore High Court subsequently upheld the convictions and death sentences of the perpetrators, many saw this as more than a legal decision. For them it was a message that the suffering of victims matters and society cannot turn a blind eye to crimes of this nature.

The response was not confined to Pakistan. The decision was recognized abroad by commentators and public figures, some of whom argued that serious sexual crimes should be punished with the most severe possible punishment.

Rupert Lowe MP (a British politician and Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth) also tweeted after this decision that "Some good news to come out of Pakistan,” which means that this decision has been praised by world.

 Others may disagree on what the appropriate sentence should be but there was agreement that the case represented a significant moment in Pakistan’s pursuit of justice.

No court ruling can erase the trauma of victims. But justice is there to prove that acts like that have consequences. A society is measured by how it protects the innocent. And how forcefully it acts against those who prey upon them.

For many Pakistanis, this was no time for celebration. It was about the reassurance that there are some crimes so grave that they can never be overlooked, excused, or forgotten.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)