Nadia Jamil slams the system for not being able to protect children
After Zainab's brutal murder and rape, bodies of three minor boys were found in Chunian Industrial Area on Tuesday
PHOTO: PUBLICITY
Kasur was brought into the spotlight after the rape and murder of Zainab sent shockwaves throughout the country. The eight-year-old was kidnapped on January 4, 2018, near her aunt’s house in the district. Her body was discovered five days later from a garbage dump. The autopsy report revealed that she had been raped and murdered. This triggered mass protests against the police action in various cities.
However, the ordeal of the people of Kasur never ended there. On Tuesday, bodies of three minor boys were found in the Chunian Industrial Area of Kasur. According to Express News, the police believes the three minors were kidnapped before being killed.
Many entertainment personalities took to social media to call out the authorities for failing society, one of them being actor-cum-activist Nadia Jamil. Talking to Twitter, Jamil shared, "I worked in Kasur for a long time. It was devastating to see what was done to those children. How little justice they have received. How many men were involved."
She added how little is being done to provide children a safe haven in Pakistan. "Not enough is being done to protect our children. It can be done. It can be organised. We have the people, the intel and the resources. Where is the will," questioned Jamil.
Speaking about how CM Punjab has finally taken notice of the recent incidents, the actor commented, "Notice?! Kasur is not new to this. If he had taken Notice before perhaps this would not have happened. Sickened to the soul. No words. None. For God's sake! Take notice of the kids left also! The abused ones who never got justice and those who live in constant fear of being abused."
Jamil continued, "But, we failed them again."
Talking about timely protests, the activist revealed how people wake up briefly after every incident and then forget about it. Jamil mentioned, "A brief peek, some noise and then oblivious sleep while more kids are killed, abused, rape. No plan in place. Ridiculous. When will CHILDREN MATTER ENOUGH. When will the government LISTEN!"
Requesting Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide protection to the children, she continued, "And now hear more screams in your head. Frightened little boys. Babies. There whole life ahead of them. Their time to play and laugh. And what did we let them be exposed to. Our failure. Child protection is a must. it is the only priority. I beg you Imran Khan."
Jamil made sure to mention how child sexual abuse stories aren't only limited to Kasur. "It's not just Kasur. It's a disease that can finish us. I have worked with these children in most cities in Punjab. I have heard of what happens in KPK, Sindh, Balochistan. I beg you sir, this is a scourge that needs serious planning to eliminate," she said.
Adding how it is vital to watch out for our children, Jamil added, "We love our country. We love our children. Let's all do more. Media for awareness. Judiciary for consequences. Digital security. Every child in school. Every school and teacher data base secure. Suspect homes visited. No more child sex workers, no more child labour! Justice for our children!"
She then highlighted a similar case from across the border.
"It's not just Pakistan. Sadly, it's a regional issue. We need to take care of our kids. All of them matter. A six-year-old has been brutally raped in India, 22-year-old accused arrested."
Jamil concluded, "We need to all step up for our kids. India and Pakistan. Let each country focus on how to protect its children. Let no children suffer. We will all be answerable some day."
Over 720 incidents of such nature have been reported in Kasur in the last three years, The Express Tribune noted back in 2018.
Mumtaz Gohar, senior programme officer at Sahil, told the publication that in 2017, a total of 129 cases of child assault were reported from Kasur alone. Of them, there were 34 abductions, 23 rapes, 19 sodomy, 17 attempted rapes, six abduction and rapes and four abduction and gang rapes.
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However, the ordeal of the people of Kasur never ended there. On Tuesday, bodies of three minor boys were found in the Chunian Industrial Area of Kasur. According to Express News, the police believes the three minors were kidnapped before being killed.
Many entertainment personalities took to social media to call out the authorities for failing society, one of them being actor-cum-activist Nadia Jamil. Talking to Twitter, Jamil shared, "I worked in Kasur for a long time. It was devastating to see what was done to those children. How little justice they have received. How many men were involved."
She added how little is being done to provide children a safe haven in Pakistan. "Not enough is being done to protect our children. It can be done. It can be organised. We have the people, the intel and the resources. Where is the will," questioned Jamil.
Speaking about how CM Punjab has finally taken notice of the recent incidents, the actor commented, "Notice?! Kasur is not new to this. If he had taken Notice before perhaps this would not have happened. Sickened to the soul. No words. None. For God's sake! Take notice of the kids left also! The abused ones who never got justice and those who live in constant fear of being abused."
Jamil continued, "But, we failed them again."
Talking about timely protests, the activist revealed how people wake up briefly after every incident and then forget about it. Jamil mentioned, "A brief peek, some noise and then oblivious sleep while more kids are killed, abused, rape. No plan in place. Ridiculous. When will CHILDREN MATTER ENOUGH. When will the government LISTEN!"
Requesting Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide protection to the children, she continued, "And now hear more screams in your head. Frightened little boys. Babies. There whole life ahead of them. Their time to play and laugh. And what did we let them be exposed to. Our failure. Child protection is a must. it is the only priority. I beg you Imran Khan."
Jamil made sure to mention how child sexual abuse stories aren't only limited to Kasur. "It's not just Kasur. It's a disease that can finish us. I have worked with these children in most cities in Punjab. I have heard of what happens in KPK, Sindh, Balochistan. I beg you sir, this is a scourge that needs serious planning to eliminate," she said.
Adding how it is vital to watch out for our children, Jamil added, "We love our country. We love our children. Let's all do more. Media for awareness. Judiciary for consequences. Digital security. Every child in school. Every school and teacher data base secure. Suspect homes visited. No more child sex workers, no more child labour! Justice for our children!"
She then highlighted a similar case from across the border.
"It's not just Pakistan. Sadly, it's a regional issue. We need to take care of our kids. All of them matter. A six-year-old has been brutally raped in India, 22-year-old accused arrested."
Jamil concluded, "We need to all step up for our kids. India and Pakistan. Let each country focus on how to protect its children. Let no children suffer. We will all be answerable some day."
Over 720 incidents of such nature have been reported in Kasur in the last three years, The Express Tribune noted back in 2018.
Mumtaz Gohar, senior programme officer at Sahil, told the publication that in 2017, a total of 129 cases of child assault were reported from Kasur alone. Of them, there were 34 abductions, 23 rapes, 19 sodomy, 17 attempted rapes, six abduction and rapes and four abduction and gang rapes.
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