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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Kidnapping, abuse top child crime report
The Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) has released its latest report, 'Mapping Violence Against Children in Islamabad 2024', which exposes alarming figures and systemic gaps in the criminal justice process for offences against children. The report, based on data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) law from Islamabad Police, examines eight categories of offences child trafficking, child marriage, child labour, physical abuse, sexual abuse, kidnapping/abduction, murder/homicide and child pornography. According to the findings, kidnapping was the most reported crime in 2024 with 68 cases, followed by 48 cases of sexual abuse. While police submitted 10 challans in kidnapping cases and 44 in sexual abuse cases, convictions remain rare. The majority of cases are still under trial or under investigation. Similar patterns emerged across other indicators, 14 cases of physical abuse, six of child marriage, and two each of child trafficking, murder/homicide and child pornography where legal proceedings have yet to conclude in most instances. A notable number of cases were also withdrawn, pointing to persistent gaps in investigation quality, evidence collection and victim/witness protection. SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas said the low rate of convictions despite multiple challans underscores the deep challenges in delivering justice. "Without urgent reforms in investigation, prosecution and victim support, crimes against children will continue without accountability," he said. The report recommends establishing specialised investigation units, fast-track courts and comprehensive victim and witness protection programmes to strengthen justice delivery and improve outcomes for child victims.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Rising child crime rate, convictions lack
Listen to article A total of 68 cases of child abduction and 48 cases of sexual abuse were reported in the federal capital, among eight documented categories of crimes against children, including trafficking, child marriage, child labour, physical abuse, murder, and child pornography, based on the data from Islamabad Police under the Right to Information law. According to the latest report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), Islamabad recorded the highest number of reported crimes against children in the categories of abduction and sexual abuse, yet the conviction rate remained negligible in 2024. Despite case challans being submitted, most cases remain under investigation or trial, with very few resulting in convictions. SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas said data on crimes against children should be regularly made public by police and courts under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, to strengthen transparency and accountability. The data further shows 14 cases of physical abuse, six of child marriage, and two each of child trafficking, murder, and child pornography. The report also notes that several cases were withdrawn, reflecting serious gaps in investigation quality, evidence collection, and the protection of victims and witnesses. Abbas said that the low conviction rate highlights deep-rooted flaws in the justice system. He warned that crimes against children will persist unabated unless urgent reforms are implemented in investigation, prosecution, and victim support mechanisms. He recommended the establishment of specialised investigative units, fast-track courts, and robust victim and witness protection programmes to ensure swift and effective justice.
Express Tribune
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Child workers driven toward education: CM
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that Punjab is ensuring the protection of children's rights by establishing the first Virtual Child Safety Station. She stated in a message on the World Day Against Child Labour, "The Punjab government is taking effective measures against child labour. Children are being freed from forced labour and driven towards attaining education." According to a statement, a team of experts in the virtual centre is tasked with carrying out search operations for missing children, getting in touch with their families and verifying their credentials. The centre has proven effective in bringing back home not only missing children but also elderly people. A helpline has been activated for missing children and citizens of other provinces as well. At least 59,635 people have so far contacted the Virtual Safety Centre to complain about missing persons, of which 53,542 cases have been resolved. The chief minister highlighted, "Whether children belong to Punjab or any other province, they are all dear to us." She maintained, "In case of disappearance, we are determined to fulfill our responsibility of bringing every child home safe and sound. Every citizen of the country can benefit from Pakistan's first Virtual Centre for Child Safety." She outlined, "We are ready to utilise all available state resources for the safe return of missing children." On the other hand, only 37 per cent of the total 895 cases of child labour reported across the country in 2024 resulted in convictions. This was revealed in the Sustainable Social Development Organisation's (SSDO) annual report. Punjab reported the highest number of cases at 450, followed closely by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with 426. In contrast, Sindh and Balochistan showed alarmingly low reporting rates. SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas said that child labour is not just a legal violation but a moral crisis that endangers the very fabric of the society. He said child labour is a crime that extinguishes the hopes and potential of future generations. "It is a stain on our conscience and we cannot move forward as a nation while allowing our children to be trapped in cycles of exploitation." He emphasised the urgent need for the government to strengthen child protection institutions and implement a cohesive national strategy to address the root causes of child labour. "We need a coordinated, inter-provincial policy framework, backed by modern technology to identify risks early and ensure timely intervention," he added. He also called for greater investment in education and social welfare to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow in a safe and nurturing environment. Meanwhile, the Dolphin Squad rescued a teenage girl who had been kidnapped from Ravi Road and arrested the suspected abductor. According to a spokesperson, an operation was conducted in the Kot Kamboh area, where the squad rescued the girl and apprehended the suspect. According to the police, the girl had been kidnapped on May 23 by 25-year-old Junaid from Sham Pura. The kidnapping case was registered at Ravi Road police station. "The Dolphin Squad conducted a targeted operation based on intelligence reports and traced the victim to Kot Kamboh," said the spokesperson. The team informed the girl's parents about her recovery and transferred her to Nawan Kot police station for legal proceedings regarding the case. The arrested suspect will be presented before a magistrate and the investigation is ongoing.
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Punjab sees alarming rise in GBV
A recent report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) has exposed a disturbing surge in violence against women across Punjab in 2024 —and an alarming failure of the justice system to deliver accountability regarding gender-based violence (GBV). Lahore led the province with 532 reported rape cases last year, followed by Faisalabad (340) and Kasur (271). Yet convictions were vanishingly rare: just two in Lahore and six in Kasur, with no convictions in any other district. When adjusted for population, Kasur (25.5 per 100,000) and Pakpattan (25 per 100,000) emerged as the most dangerous for women. Honor killings also spiked in 2024: Faisalabad recorded 31 cases, Rajanpur and Sargodha 15 eachand not a single perpetrator was convicted. Per capita rates were highest in Rajanpur (2.9) and Khushab (2.5), underscoring the deadly grip of harmful cultural norms in rural areas. Kidnappings were the most frequently reported crime. Lahore alone logged 4,510 cases, yet secured only five convictions. Faisalabad (1,610), Kasur (1,230), Sheikhupura (1,111), and Multan (970) followed, all with zero convictions. Per capita, Lahore topped the list at 128.2 per 100,000, followed by Kasur (115.8) and Sheikhupura (103.6). Domestic violence cases reached 561 in Gujranwalathe highest in the provincefollowed by Sahiwal (68) and Lahore (56), again with no convictions. Gujranwala's per capita rate of 34.8 far exceeded that of Chiniot (11), revealing the growing scope of domestic abuse in both urban and rural settings. Compiled from Right to Information (RTI) requests, the SSDO report analyzes district level data on rape, honor killings, kidnappings, and domestic violence. SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas praised improved police reporting.
Express Tribune
13-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Adopted children face uncertain futures
Till date, Pakistan has not been able to devise formal legislation on the practice of child adoption, despite the fact that a significant number of married couples are given temporary custody of abandoned children each year. As a result, no effective monitoring system exists to prevent the mistreatment of adopted children, who are orphaned twice in the face of unreported exploitation, abuse and neglect that silently occurs behind closed doors. According to Syed Kausar Abbas, Head of the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), there is a need to devise legislation over the monitoring of children given under temporary custody. "The authority granting temporary custody should form a committee that can go to the homes of the adoptive families and personally assess the condition of these children, who are at risk of exploitation. It is possible for a family to adopt one child from Punjab and another from Sindh due to the unavailability of digital data on the temporary custody of children. This exposes adopted children to the risk of child trafficking," warned Abbas. Abbas' concerns are not unfounded given the province's grim record of violence against children. Figures from Sahil, an organisation focused on child abuse and exploitation, reveal that 1,630 cases of child abuse were reported nationwide in the first six months of 2024, 862 of which involved sexual abuse. Girls accounted for 59% of all reported cases, underscoring the gendered nature of the crisis. "In the absence of an effective monitoring system, there are concerns that adopted children, especially girls, can be coerced into human trafficking or other heinous activities on the dark web. There is no mechanism to check the condition of the adopted child, who could be exposed to all kinds of harm," claimed Rashida Qureshi, a gender expert and coordinator at the Children Advocacy Network Pakistan. In January 2023, an organ trafficking gang was uncovered in Rawalpindi after a 14-year-old boy hailing from Lahore was found with his kidney removed in an underground lab. Furthermore, as per statistics obtained from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), a 336 per cent rise was reported in cases of cyber child pornography during the past six years in Punjab, the country's largest province. Iftikhar Mubarak, Head of Search for Justice, revealed that although Section 28 of the Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act, 2004, played an important role in the care, protection and rehabilitation of destitute and neglected children, the monitoring system was still inefficient. "A case worker or social worker should be appointed to monitor every child who is adopted while the guardians should be required to present the child in court from time to time. This will allow judges to personally assess the child's condition, development and overall well-being. However, the process must be designed and implemented in such a way that the child does not suffer emotional distress while interacting with the legal system," implored Mubarak, who further added that an online platform could be established through which guardians or custodians can submit periodic reports on the child's well-being especially in the case that the child has been taken abroad. On the other hand, Sarah Ahmed, Chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau and Head of the Provincial Parliamentary Committee on Child Rights claimed that the Child Protection Court provided temporary custody of abandoned children. "The couple adopting the child is bound to appear with the child on the date fixed by the court. They are asked about the health and care of the child. If the child is able to tell themselves, then information is taken from them separately and a report is compiled and placed in the custody file of the child. Families of the children taken abroad are contacted through video calls and certificates related to their education and health are reviewed," claimed Ahmed. "Till date, no such case has come to light where a child given in temporary custody is not being taken care of and the custody has had to be revoked," claimed Ahmed who revealed that 230 abandoned children were adopted by childless couples in the last five years, out of which 50 children were adopted by Pakistani families living abroad," she added.
