Islamabad: In Pakistan, the alarming trend of kidnappings and brutal killings of young girls has become a significant challenge for authorities, who have repeatedly failed to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure justice.
In a recent horrific incident, a five-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Karachi’s Liaqatabad area. The child was abducted, sexually assaulted, and subsequently killed before her body was discarded in Gujjar Nullah. Prior to the discovery of her body, a missing persons report had been filed at the Sachal police station just one day earlier.
The postmortem examination, conducted by police surgeon Samia Tariq, confirmed that the girl had been sexually abused, with forensic samples collected for chemical analysis. The girl’s father expressed his anguish, stating that when the body was located, her hands and feet were tied. “If timely action had been taken to search for my daughter, her life could have been saved. We demand immediate arrests and prosecution of those responsible,” he said.
The girl’s family protested against the heinous crime, blocking Abul Hassan Ispahani Road in Karachi, and alleged that some body parts were missing from their daughter’s remains. An investigation has been launched, with police reviewing CCTV footage from Sikander Goth to identify potential suspects. Initial reports suggest that the footage captures a woman leading the child away, though this has not been independently verified by police officials.
In an unrelated incident, a 17-year-old girl was reportedly abducted and gang-raped in the Malir city area of Karachi. According to her father, the kidnapping occurred at gunpoint on April 14. He detailed that the main suspect, named Faizan, along with three accomplices, drugged and assaulted his daughter before abandoning her. The young girl recounted her traumatic experience to her father upon returning home later that night.
The rising instances of sexual violence against minors have sparked serious concerns regarding the pervasive mental issues, depravity, and frustration present in Pakistani society.
Karachi, known as the economic hub of Pakistan and the provincial capital of Sindh, attracts individuals from diverse backgrounds seeking better lives and job opportunities. Despite its reputation as one of the world’s most affordable cities, known for its cosmopolitan nature and welcoming environment, it grapples with high rates of street crimes, targeted killings, thefts, and alarming levels of sexual violence against young girls—a pressing challenge for local authorities and the provincial government.
