10-year-old boy raped in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: A 10-year-old boy was sexually abused in Karkhano Market within the jurisdiction of Hayatabad police station on Sunday night.

This is the third such case to be reported from the district over the past few days. According to data available with The Express Tribune, at least 10 such cases were reported in the district till April 30.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Hayatabad ASP Hassan Afzal said the boy’s father registered an FIR with Hayatabad police. Afzal said the boy was taken to a room by a guard in Azam Market. The accused has been identified as Wakeel. The guard raped the boy. The 10-year-old informed his father about the incident.

“We raided the guard’s room and arrested him,” Afzal said. “The child had been sent for a medical examination.”

He added an FIR was registered against the suspect under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and police have started an investigation.

Another policeman said Wakeel asked the child, who lives near the market, to get him a cigarette. When the boy returned, the watchman took him to the room.

Earlier, a child was raped by a neighbour in Hashtnagri. A similar case was reported in Pakha Ghulam village within the jurisdiction of Paharipura police station. Another case also surfaced from Yakatoot.

Child rights activist Imran Takkar said all expectations from the PTI-led government to introduce an active and efficient child protection system have vanished and this was most unfortunate.

“A law exists in the shape of the Child Welfare and Protection Act, 2010 and even a commission has been established,” he said. “But its role is invisible.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2016.