Curbing abuse

An enraged father allegedly burned his son alive for an absurd reason in Karachi's Orangi Town

A bizarre and horrific incident took place in Karachi’s Orangi Town where an enraged father allegedly burned his son alive for the absurd reason of not being able to answer questions about his studies. The 12-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries two days later in the hospital, eventually prompting the police to arrest the perpetrator.

The entire ordeal indicates that the perpetrator may not have been in the right mental state or might even be suffering from a serious mental disorder. It is a common mistake for parents to think that they have complete ownership of their child and can do whatever they want with them, without acknowledging the child’s rights and individuality. Even parents must give accountability to the state for how they are treating and nurturing their children. Children are at such a vulnerable position in this country that they no longer remain safe in their own homes or even in state-operated child protection units, as abuse remains rampant throughout. Not a single day passes without an instance of child abuse being highlighted on the news. The incident is indeed another dent in Pakistan’s image as officials fail to implement child protection laws. The deplorable state of affairs merits serious attention from high officials, CSOs and LEAs, who must work together to create a robust mechanism for child protection.

In a case where even guardians fail to protect and uphold dignity of children, the onus lies on the state to use its iron hand and protect the child at all costs. The Sindh Child Protection Authority must remain vigilant and carry out its functions in the best possible manner Strong implementation of the Domestic Violence Act and other child protection laws can help curb instances of abuse and stop it from escalating to the point of premeditated murder.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2022.

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