News Analysis |
Federal Ombudsman has discovered a nexus of rich politically connected people, drugs, prostitution, and pornographic movies responsible for the rise of child abuse incidents in Kasur District of Punjab. The report of federal Ombudsman has been sent to President Dr. Arif Alvi.
In April 2018, the federal ombudsman had formed a task force to investigate the circumstances and reasons mounting the child abuse cases after the horrific rape and murder of eight-year-old Zainab Ansari in Kasur; a district already haunted by the long child abuse and pornography scandal.
The heinous crime of Zainab’s rape and murder sparked outrage and protest across the country, while #JusticeforZainab became a rallying cry for an end to violence against children.
Read more: 500 child abuse cases in Islamabad: Senate’s body informed
Imran Ali, the prime suspect confessed to at least nine incidents of rape-cum-murder of minors, including Zainab was ultimately handed over the death penalty by Anti-terrorism court and was hanged to death in Oct 2018.
A prominent anchor person, Dr. Shahid Masood, in his program on channel “NewsOne” claimed that a powerful dark web existed in Kasur, and a number of hefty payments were made by and to that ring. Dr. Masood, who could not prove his claims, was humiliated and stringently criticized in media circles. The Supreme Court took suo moto of the issue; ultimately Dr. Masood’s program was banned for two months.
Subsequently, a corruption case pertaining to state television was filed against the anchor person. Mr. Masood–who was chairman PTV in tenure of Pakistan People’s party, was accused of embezzling around Rs37 million from PTV– is now in jail.
Dr. Masood and people close to him believe that since he revealed the dark practices, powerful people involved got upset and hence the corruption case against him was filed.
Interestingly, the report of federal ombudsman has discovered facts close to Dr. Shahid Masood’s claims; there is strong evidence that influence, pressure, and bribes were used by politically strong people to make police cover the investigations into Kasur child abuse cases.
Read more: Child abuse continues unabated in Pakistan
“Power play of landlords and politicians including protecting the criminals, influencing the justice system” along with the drugs, access to pornography and prostitution are among the causes of increased child sexual abuse cases, as per report of the federal ombudsman.
The report cites that local landlords and politicians backed the culprits in most cases by putting pressure on the parents of the victims to stop pursuing the charges or withdraw the cases.
The report has already been sent to President Alvi, who has been very vocal about social justice. It is yet to be seen as how President would act to make sure that the nexus mentioned by the report is taken to justice.
Analysts believe unless the influential people involved in heinous crime of child abuse are not caught, the ill-practices that have already been on rising won’t stop.