Gravest sins in the land of the pure
The entire nation was shocked after the case of 400 video recordings of more than 280 children being forced to have sex in the Hussain Khan Wala village in Kasur district came to light, and that too in the month of Pakistan’s 69th Independence.
Political Economist Mobeen Chughtai speaking on the issue told DNA that all those years ago when this country was first formed, whether it was a theocracy or a modern nation state; whether it was for the Muslims only or for all citizens within the confines of its borders, one thing is certain: it was certainly for a safe and prosperous future. Nature has no expression of the future more subtle than a child. And today, on this Independence Day, we can be equally certain that this country’s future stands raped.
“I cannot imagine what depths of depravity a mind must sink to in order to take advantage of a child like that, but our system does, verifiably produce such ignorance. Paedophilia is a global phenomenon, granted, but states organise and manage child protection and welfare regimes to mitigate exactly these kinds of scenarios,” said Chughtai, asking about this functional apparatus in Pakistan?
Acclaimed Human Rights Activist Nuzhat Saadia Siddiqi told DNA that the language being used to describe what has happened in Kasur with children has been deceptive and misleading.
“The children are victims and survivors of the most heinous form of sexual abuse and sexual torture. This is not a ‘scandal’, this is a disaster,” said Siddiqi adding that it was a decidedly “manmade” disaster. The children were definitely targeted systematically by an organised child pornography ring.
Paedophilia is a global phenomenon, granted, but states organise and manage child protection and welfare regimes to mitigate exactly these kinds of scenarios
She added that the law enforcement agencies need to protect them and justice needs to be delivered to ensure this does not happen again. A federal and international level inquiry needs to be launched to bring down the child pornography ring and their clients and partners in Pakistan and abroad.
“Additionally, civil society needs to support the investigation and ensure they are vigilant about the developments in this case. Anything less will amount to letting down this country’s most vulnerable people,” said Siddiqi.
Political Analyst Marvi Sirmed termed it a shocking incident with many disturbing details. But the fact of the matter is that no one is going to be punished. “For one, because of the lack of legally permissible evidence and two, because of the elite consensus of saving each other. The culprits have friends in police, politics and media,” said Sirmed adding that a section of media has taken on itself to trivialise the crime. Police is doing the same. And that’s why they are going to be safe.
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan and Constitutional Expert Ali Ibrahim told DNA that as a first step there needs to be accountability. The area police and the senior officers need to be severely reprimanded for their criminal inaction. One could argue that special laws need to be made for such heinous crimes committed against children.
However, I believe very often these laws are a cop out from the actual consistent work that is required to tackle the issue. The government could use the sudden awareness about issues concerning paedophilia and child sexual and reproductive health as a tool to push through education and policy reforms, said Ibrahim adding that lastly, we must make sure that the culprits are given the prescribed punishments.
He added that in his opinion it can only be made possible by training police and prosecutors alike in the collection, delivery and presentation of evidence. Without that, we as a people won’t be able to bring these people to justice without alleviation of our own personal liberties and due process rights.
Former Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi termed Kasur tragedy the worst example of bad governance. He said this is the result of weakening the police and administration and using them for political purposes. He said like Model Town tragedy there will be no outcome of joint investigation.
PPP Punjab’s President Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo told DNA that some heads of Punjab government must roll for this incident.
Wattoo condemned in the strongest terms the heinous crime on behalf of the PPP that caused acute embarrassment for the country at the international level as well.
He lamented that the Punjab government led by Shehbaz Sharif was unaware of this crime for so many years. It inevitably poses serious questions about the capability and competence of the government and its agencies, he observed.
Wattoo demanded that the Judicial Commission Report of the crime should be made public when finalised so that the people should know the facts, adding its fate should not be of that of the Model Town incident report that had not been made public so far despite commitment.
“Those who are found responsible should be brought in the dock at the earliest to award exemplary punishment so that no such incident should take place in future in any part of the country,” said Wattoo, urging the government to bear the expenses of imparting education to the victims in schools and colleges located in other urban areas and also provide them decent jobs so that they could lead their lives with honour and dignity.
The psychological scars inflicted on their personalities are difficult to heal but their rehabilitation is the responsibility of the Punjab government, he observed.
Provincial Home Minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada, while speaking to DNA, said, “This is a curse. We have to clean our society of such criminals. The entire provincial machinery including the CM and IGP are very closely monitoring the situation.”
He admitted that the gang had been abusing children for the last 10 years but the incidents never came to the notice of the government hierarchy.
Replying to a question, the minister said the police officers found involved in protecting the abusers or those showing negligence in this important issue would be punished. He also claimed that all the criminals would be brought to justice irrespective of their status or political affiliation.
Former Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi termed Kasur tragedy the worst example of bad governance. He said this is the result of weakening the police and administration and using them for political purposes
Defending his force, IGP Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera told DNA that since even the “families of the sexually assaulted children did not know about the abuse nor did they complain to the police even several years after the incident took place, how could the police have known about it? Now that the matter is in our knowledge, a transparent inquiry is being conducted and those found responsible will be shown no leniency.”
Sukhera shared that the SHO Mehr Akmal had been removed from his post after charges were levelled of abetting members of the pornography ring by sharing information about complainants against them.
Sukhera said that if the SHO fails to prove his innocence, he would also be taken to task. He added that on the demand of the villagers, the DPO Kasur had also been removed from his post.
Member Provincial Assembly Hina Pervez Butt, while speaking to DNA, said “I think it is safe to say this is Pakistan’s biggest organised child sexual abuse case. I strongly condemn the organised sexual victimisation of the innocent children of Kasur to make and sell child pornography and for blackmailing purposes.”
She added that child abuse and sexual torture of children are the lowest, most heinous of crimes and must be dealt with full force of justice and the law of the land.
She also said survivors of child abuse in Kasur deserve our utmost respect and protection from law enforcement agencies. “At this difficult hour, I call upon you all to educate yourselves about child abuse so that you can protect yourself and your loved ones from this tragic crime,” said Butt. “There is no shame in surviving child abuse. The only shame is in letting sexual predators get away with their crime.”
Butt opined that these children and their families need counselling and as much social, political, legal support as humanly possible. This must not be allowed to fade into oblivion. This is our shame, our burden. This could be our children. Please. Let’s organise and help. Kasur is not that far away.
