Pakistan’s city of Kasur once again makes headlines due to a heinous crime of child abuse. An eight years old girl Zainab has become the latest victim after her allegedly raped body was found on a heap of trash. Given such a gruesome incident, Pakistani people are demanding justice for Zainab.
According to media reports, the victim was abducted while she was on her way to tuition center on January 5. After four days, Police found her body on a heap in the Kashmir Chowk.
Protests in Kasur
Protests erupted in Kasur after the news spread about Zainab’s brutal murder. Citizens gathered outside the DCO office to raise their voice against the horrific incident. According to media reports, riots police opened straight fire on protestors which resulted in two causalities.
Chief Minister Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif who took notice of the incident has said to personally monitor the progress in the case and ensure that culprits meet their faith.
Deeply pained about murder of a 8-year old girl in a child molestation case. Those societies that cannot protect its children are eternally condemned. Not going to rest till the perpetrators of this dastardly act are apprehended & given severest possible punishment under the law
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 10, 2018
Just presided over a meeting of police & administration officials. Made it absolutely clear to them that lip service would not work. I want the culprits involved in this heinous crime behind the bars. Those failing in their duties will be proceeded against. Very painful incident! https://t.co/FFSBbNhtrr
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 10, 2018
Sadly, this is not the first time when any such case has happened in Kasur. According to media reports, last year, 12 rape cases that victimized the minor girls were reported. From the victims, only one managed to survive. The severity of such situation has made civil society to question of government is serious for taking action against the criminals or not?
Justice for Zainab
The gruesome incident shook every member of Pakistani society. Politicians, celebrities, sportspersons, social media users and members of civil society demanded the Justice for Zainab by expressing their grievances and registering their protests.
Here is what politicians have to say
PTI leader Asad Umer lambasted the Punjab Police for mishandling the protestors and killing the innocent people.
First an innocent child is killed and then those demanding justice get fired upon by the police. This is what happens when you let punjab police murder innocent people in model town and no one is held accountable #JusticeForZainab
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) January 10, 2018
Chairman PTI Imran Khan expressed his concerns by pointing out how children in our society were vulnerable to such acts.
The condemnable & horrific rape & murder of little Zainab exposes once again how vulnerable our children are in our society. This is not the first time such horrific acts have happened. We have to act swiftly to punish the guilty & ensure that our children are better protected. pic.twitter.com/9f7OM3hYT1
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 10, 2018
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also called for devising a policy to deal with such crimes against children and punishing the criminals.
The horrific crime perpetrated in Kasur is devastating. Pakistan needs to reevaluate how it deals with such crimes, especially those against children. My prayers and heartfelt sympathies with the family. We must all stand with victims of abuse. https://t.co/YLEmW5sBXU
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) January 10, 2018
Reaction from Pakistani Celebrities
Pakistani celebrities from cricket and sports also raised their voice and condemned the incident. Celebs like Mahira Khan, Mawra Hocane, Usman Khalid Butt, Nadia Jamil, Hareem Farooq Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz and many other notable names called on the government to punish the culprits. They used the hashtag Justice For Zainab to condemn the incident.
Ya Allah is qadar Zulm or Jahalat! We should truly truly be ashamed of ourselves as a Nation. What’s the point for #JusticeForZainab when there are countless Rape & Murder cases in line for justice? @pid_gov @GovtOfPunjab Devastated!
— MAWRA HOCANE (@MawraHocane) January 10, 2018
Ya Allah. Protect our children. Bless Zainabs family w strength. No justice will bring their angel back but let them see the criminals punished. 2 many parents shed tears of blood. 2 many little ones tortured. Children are our future. Look at the image of what we are doing 2 ours
— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) January 9, 2018
Children are Allah’s greatest gift. They stand for everything good in humanity, Zainab’s tragedy is humanity’s tragedy. Deeply saddened by it, can’t even imagine what her family is going through. We must speak up, justice has to prevail. #JusticeforZainab
— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) January 10, 2018
I refuse to believe this can be true and this can happen in our Pakistan but the reality is different. Ya Allah give sabr to the parents. As a father just hearing about this has made me feel sick. What is happening? How can we stop this from ever happening again?#JusticeForZainab pic.twitter.com/TNVyh3RrIx
— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) January 10, 2018
Victims of the Kasur child pornography scandal are STILL awaiting justice, almost two-and-a-half years on. This public condemnation will ring hollow unless we see it through. To justice. Justice for Zainab. Justice for the children of this nation.
— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) January 10, 2018
To deal with the evil of child abuse, every section of Pakistani society needs to come forward. We have recently observed a Pakistani fashion show featuring a child bride to spread awareness about the issue of child marriages. In 2016, Hum TV drama Udaari that talked about the issue of child abuse also faced public acclaim. In the wake of such a severe condition when the government is not swift enough to take action, parents and children should also be taught about taking precautionary measures and staying safe from the goons.
