Fear of kidnapping

Some recent cases involving kidnapping and murder of children have created a sort of panic in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province. This is evident from the fact that out of the 12,230 cases of kidnapping that were registered during the past 10 months of the ongoing year, at least 6,714 cases, or 55%, were cancelled after the children involved returned home, saying they left their homes after their parents had rebuked them.

Incidents like the Kasur child pornography scandal, Zainab rape and murder, Chunian serial killings and the motorway rape have led parents to fear for the safety of their children if they disappear even for a short time. Most people confronting such a situation lodge cases with the police. The police say fake news in cyberspace is adding to the fears. Rumours are being spread that children are being abducted for sale of their organs like kidney and liver. So the police are dealing with cases of violence against children and women on a priority basis.

The fear has assumed the proportion of paranoia as incidents have also happened where fathers and mothers, accompanying their own children, have been beaten by people after the former were suspected to be child kidnappers. A combination of reality, fear and rumour has led to a situation where every fourth case registered by the police pertains to kidnapping.

Also, people increasingly fear for the safety of young as well as little girls. If girls disappear even for other reasons, parents tend to lodge kidnapping cases. Incidents have come to light where girls themselves gave statements to court that they left their homes of their own accord, hence such cases were cancelled.

The provincial police claim that in only 46 of the total registered cases, the victims have not been recovered and the kidnappers not arrested; and 2,901 cases are under investigation. Even though there is no report of people faking their own kidnapping, such incidents do happen. People do it for money as well as in property disputes.