ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) Beasts Hidden in Human Faces

ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) At the corner of some street, on the way to some school, in some shop, or right at the threshold of one’s own home—anywhere, anytime.

An innocent face, a trust, and then a wound that never heals.

Every morning, when the mobile phone or newspaper comes to hand, while turning the pages of the newspaper or scrolling through the phone, the heart prays for just one thing: that today there would be no news of cruelty against any innocent boy or girl.

But unfortunately, this prayer often remains unfulfilled, and we express our regret, curse the wrongdoing for a short while, and then move on to the next page while sipping our tea or keep scrolling forward on our phones. In reality, this is our apathy.

When I was little, I used to hear that girls should be taken care of, that situations are not good, and that girls could be in danger. But the sad part is that this cruelty is no longer limited to just girls.

Now, boys are not safe either. In our society, young boys are also becoming victims of sexual abuse and violence.

The only difference is that families often do not even report such crimes committed against boys due to the fear of social stigma.

Leave boys aside, even the cases of most girls go unreported. This very silence becomes the power of the criminals.

The statistics are screaming, yet we are still not ready to take this issue seriously.

According to a recent report by “Sahil,” a non-governmental organization, cases of child abduction and sexual abuse across Pakistan increased by 8% in 2025 compared to the previous year, with a total of 3,630 reported cases.

Out of these, a total of 1,107 children were abducted, 522 children were raped, and 108 children were gang-raped.

According to Sahil’s report, 58 children were brutally murdered after being subjected to sexual lust.

Among the affected children, 53% were girls and 47% were boys, while the most vulnerable age group is between 11 and 15 years.

If I speak of recent incidents that have wounded not just my heart but my very soul, there is the “Muntaha Case” of Sargodha. A 7-year-old innocent girl, Muntaha, went to a shop to buy something where she was abducted, and after being raped, she was murdered and her body was thrown on a roof.

Then there is the “Kulsoom Case” of Karachi. In an area of Karachi, a 3-year-old girl named Kulsoom was allegedly abducted, raped, and brutally murdered.

Just think about it—only 3 years old.

On average, more than 9 children fell victim to sexual abuse every single day—meaning one child every two and a half to three hours. And where it was assumed that girls were more unsafe, the rate of boys being affected in the 11 to 15 years age group is even higher than that of girls.

The most terrifying and painful aspect of this is that the child is not left alive after the abuse, out of fear that they might identify the beast.

Last year, 58 such incidents came to light where children were murdered after being sexually abused.

Think, an innocent life was taken just so that they would not remain a witness to the cruelty inflicted upon them.

What is the Reason After All?

As simple as this question seems, it is equally complex. Has the fear of God vanished from our society? Has humanity completely died? Apart from this, there are certain factors that come to the forefront repeatedly.

• Absence of Punishment: In our country, cases drag on for years, evidence weakens, and the criminal is often acquitted or the matter is suppressed in the name of compromise. Where punishment is not guaranteed, the fear of crime also disappears.

• Family and Societal Silence: “What will people say?” This is a fear that often keeps the affected child away from justice. This silence, kept in the name of honor, actually provides protection to the criminal.

• Lack of Education: Children are not taught at all what “good touch” and “bad touch” mean, nor are they given the confidence to speak out openly about any inappropriate behavior. Children hide such matters from their parents out of fear that no one will believe them or that they might end up being put in the dock instead.

• Systemic Sluggishness:

  • Delay in reporting cases: In rape cases, the first 24 to 48 hours are the most crucial for obtaining medical and DNA evidence.

  • Lack of Forensic Labs: In Pakistan, modern forensic labs of international standards can be counted on one’s fingers.

  • Delay in Police Investigation: Pakistan Police relies on traditional methods (such as mere statements or confessions), while the system of modern scientific investigation is very weak. Influential criminals take advantage of political pressure, bribery, or weak police challans (charge sheets) to weaken the case.

  • Sluggishness of the Judicial System: Cases drag on for years in Pakistan’s courts. During this long period, the accused party puts pressure on the affected family, gives threats, or forces them into an “Out of Court Settlement” using the lure of money, after which witnesses back track in court. The lack of resources with child protection institutions is also a major issue. All of this combines to boost the morale of criminals.

• Internet and Social Media: The unchecked expansion of the digital era, unrestricted internet and easy access to pornography, the rising trend of drugs—sometimes these are the very factors that lead to this brutality.

Who is Responsible?

The truth is that this is not just an issue for the government or the police. This is an issue for every home that remains silent, every neighborhood that looks away after seeing it, and every institution that delays taking action.

Until we, as a society, accept that silence is also a crime, this cycle will not stop. We must promote morality, respect for humanity, and religious education in our homes, schools, mosques, and society. Along with this, we must strictly monitor our children regarding what they do, who they meet, and who they talk to. Children must also be told that no one, except their parents, has permission to touch them in an incorrect way.

In the end, I would only like to say that if we do not take this issue seriously even today, a protected childhood will remain nothing but a dream.