Cases of minor girls’ murder after rape have seen a worrisome increase in Karachi during 2022 with a sudden upsurge monitored recently. At least six such cases were reported in the past three and a half months — half of them this December alone.
Over 200 sexual abuse cases have been reported in the city just this year. Karachi police statistics show that in eight of the reported 216 abuse cases, the victims were aged five years or less; 40 were between six and 10; 38 were between 15 and 18; and 95 were over 18. Police arrested the primary suspects in almost all minor abuse-related cases.
Sindh police chief IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon said, “In cases where close relatives are involved and doing such things in the house; the police can’t do anything.” However, he added that the police could timely investigate these cases with the help of forensic and digital evidence they gather.
“Police investigations in such cases have seen much improvement compared to the earlier situation, but now they need more training to deal with these cases,” the IGP said regarding the expertise of police investigators.
War Against Rape (WAR), a non-governmental organisation focusing on incidents of sexual abuse, said that until July 2022, in the 42 reported cases, 27 (64%) survivors were children under 18 years. The most vulnerable age group was 5-11 years (36%), followed by 12-17 years (29%).
90% of the cases reported women and female children as victims. Regarding the nature of the assault, 64% of the cases were rape, 18% of gang rape, 12% of incest and 6% of sexual assault.
District West indicated the highest incidence of sexual violence at 47%, followed by District East at 21%, District Korangi at 14%, Malir and South districts at 8% each, and the Kemari and Central districts at 1% each.
WAR programme officer Sheraz Ahmed said that, “the government should adopt and expand life skills-based education, also known as comprehensive sexuality education, across Pakistan.”
He added, “they should also expand training programmes for parents and teachers to make children aware of the good and bad touch, or the self-protection knowledge. You can’t trust anyone. Close relatives are also found involved in some of these cases.”
“But if they’re forced to leave their children home alone, they should lock the door outside after taking all the precautionary measures like switching off the gas, etc.”
He lamented that in some cases, police negligence or delay is found to be the cause of the culprits succeeding in their brutal acts. Since close relatives and neighbours are involved, they kill the victims to protect their identities and avoid being arrested.
Ahmed stressed the need for the effective implementation of the Zainab Alert app. He said that some cases were reported on the application, but the government was not accepting them.
“Children will be safeguarded when the state’s approach is proactive. Teachers should learn tips and techniques to identify child sexual abuse symptoms or signs. The media can also play a better role in spreading awareness.”
He said that the police should also play their role because these cases occur inside homes and out on the streets and empty plots, adding that the police should take the missing children's cases seriously.
Over 200 sexual abuse cases have been reported in the city just this year. Karachi police statistics show that in eight of the reported 216 abuse cases, the victims were aged five years or less; 40 were between six and 10; 38 were between 15 and 18; and 95 were over 18. Police arrested the primary suspects in almost all minor abuse-related cases.
In most cases, close relatives and neighbours were involved.
Sindh police chief IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon said, “In cases where close relatives are involved and doing such things in the house; the police can’t do anything.” However, he added that the police could timely investigate these cases with the help of forensic and digital evidence they gather.
“Police investigations in such cases have seen much improvement compared to the earlier situation, but now they need more training to deal with these cases,” the IGP said regarding the expertise of police investigators.
War Against Rape (WAR), a non-governmental organisation focusing on incidents of sexual abuse, said that until July 2022, in the 42 reported cases, 27 (64%) survivors were children under 18 years. The most vulnerable age group was 5-11 years (36%), followed by 12-17 years (29%).
The average age was 14 years in all cases investigated, with the minimum age of survivors being five years.
90% of the cases reported women and female children as victims. Regarding the nature of the assault, 64% of the cases were rape, 18% of gang rape, 12% of incest and 6% of sexual assault.
District West indicated the highest incidence of sexual violence at 47%, followed by District East at 21%, District Korangi at 14%, Malir and South districts at 8% each, and the Kemari and Central districts at 1% each.
WAR programme officer Sheraz Ahmed said that, “the government should adopt and expand life skills-based education, also known as comprehensive sexuality education, across Pakistan.”
He added, “they should also expand training programmes for parents and teachers to make children aware of the good and bad touch, or the self-protection knowledge. You can’t trust anyone. Close relatives are also found involved in some of these cases.”
Parents should have a good relationship with their children to train them to sense the bad touches and never leave their children alone at home.
“But if they’re forced to leave their children home alone, they should lock the door outside after taking all the precautionary measures like switching off the gas, etc.”
He lamented that in some cases, police negligence or delay is found to be the cause of the culprits succeeding in their brutal acts. Since close relatives and neighbours are involved, they kill the victims to protect their identities and avoid being arrested.
Ahmed stressed the need for the effective implementation of the Zainab Alert app. He said that some cases were reported on the application, but the government was not accepting them.
“Children will be safeguarded when the state’s approach is proactive. Teachers should learn tips and techniques to identify child sexual abuse symptoms or signs. The media can also play a better role in spreading awareness.”
He said that the police should also play their role because these cases occur inside homes and out on the streets and empty plots, adding that the police should take the missing children's cases seriously.