‘Awareness about ‘good touch, bad touch’ should start from home’

Celebrities join civil society to highlight Farishta rape and murder case

KARACHI: Celebrities such as Mahira Khan, Shehzad Roy, Zeba Bakhtiar and cricketer Younis Khan joined members of civil society at a press conference on Thursday. The briefing at the Karachi Press Club was aimed at highlighting Farishta rape and murder case.

How many Zainabs and Farishtas will suffer before it stops: Mahira Khan

Speaking to the media, the celebrities called out authorities for not having a system in place to avoid such tragic incidents in the future.

“There was Zainab’s case a while back and now we are facing another similar case,” Mahira said at the press conference. “Awareness regarding ‘good touch, bad touch’ should start from home. Let’s make sure we don’t come across another incident like Farishta’s. Such stories are terrifying. Awareness about sexual abuse should begin at home and school”.

Mahira also shared how victims who have gone through such ordeals should be given therapy sessions. “Mental health of such minors should be a priority,” added the actor. “Education begins at home. We hope such incidents aren’t repeated.”

Roy shed light on how shelters and legal aid for abused survivors are minimal. “Police should be trained properly to deal with such cases,” the singer-cum-activist stated. “When Zainab’s case happened, we should’ve made sure nothing like that happened again”.

Farishta murder case: Three neighbours taken into custody as investigation continues

“In many parts of the country, there aren’t any proper systems available for minors suffering from sexual abuse, rape. Many minors suffer the same fate as Zainab and Farishta and those who don’t, are not provided with basic necessities,” added Roy.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2019.