A national shame

The arrest of a father accused of producing and selling sexually explicit videos of his own young children is one of the most horrifying stories to hit the headlines in a long time. It is not just about the terrible crime itself, but also the societal failure that allows such abuse to occur. The investigation has extended to Islamabad and some of southern Punjab, including Multan, while the accused, who hails from Skardu, was reportedly arrested in Islamabad.

The network allegedly sold the abusive material internationally in exchange for cryptocurrency. And while investigators have described this as the first reported case in Pakistan involving a father producing and selling child abuse material featuring his own children, the circulation of such material remains a grave concern. According to Childlight's 2025 Into the Light report, Pakistan recorded 41.3 Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) reports or notices per 10,000 people in 2024 - a rate significantly higher than those recorded in India and Nepal. Sahil's Cruel Numbers 2025 report documented 3,630 reported cases of child abuse and related offences across the country. Given the stigma, shame and fear that discourage victims from coming forward, the true extent of child abuse is almost certainly greater than these reported figures suggest.

There are already laws on the books to prosecute these crimes. What is needed is properly funded enforcement and comprehensive support for victims, not just financially or physically, but also psychologically and emotionally. As for the perpetrators, child abuse does not just devastate individual lives but can inflict lasting damage on entire families. In a country where criminal penalties are sometimes called draconian, there should be little disagreement that those found guilty of such crimes must face the full force of the law.