Catch the killer

The brutal murder of Zainab in Kasur has forced people in both the public and private sectors to think about how to tackle this social problem. The Punjab government has decided to introduce child protection curriculum in all schools of the province in order to create awareness. The Kasur incident revived the debate about what steps should be taken to provide safety to our children. People are also angry that the law-enforcement agencies have failed to protect us. They are demanding that strict and immediate action must be taken to punish Zainab’s killer.

Many celebrities and politicians have also come forward to talk about what should be done to educate our children regarding the matter. This also calls for much-needed amendments in existing laws. If we start awarding strict punishments to those involved in such heinous attacks, there is a probability that the number of this crime will come down. Parents should also show vigilance when sending their children to school and tuition.

M Z Rifat

Lahore

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The Kasur incident shocked the entire nation to its core. We saw teary-eyed celebrities talking about the increasing number of crimes relating to child sexual abuse. Calls for justice and demands for the arrest of the killer echoed the air. Unfortunately, we failed to have a serious discussion about the steps that we should take to avert such incidents in the future. We need to understand that although a criminal should be apprehended, it will not put an end to the crime.

People who commit this crime suffers from a psychological disorder because of which they are unable to experience the feeling of remorse or guilt. The abusers manipulate and exploit others and engage in risky behaviours to satisfy their own needs and have little concern for the consequences. A comprehensive preventive strategy to create awareness among parents and children should be chalked out to minimise the chances of the recurrence of such crimes. Besides educating society, the police should be equipped and trained for prevention and detection of such crimes.

Dr Najeeb A Khan

Islamabad