Syed Nouman Ud Din
When an innocent child becomes a victim of sexual abuse and murder, it is not merely a crime against one family; it is an attack on the conscience of society. A child who should be holding a parent’s hand, carrying a toy and dreaming about the future is instead forced to become a victim of brutality. The question is simple but painful: When will our children finally be safe?
In the case concerning the rape and murder of a minor girl within the jurisdiction of Sheikh Maltoon Police Station, Mardan, the Peshawar High Court upheld the death sentence awarded to convict Akhtar Hussain and dismissed his appeal. Justice Sahibzada Asadullah issued a detailed 34-page judgment, observing that the law cannot remain silent when the rights of children, human dignity and social values are violated.
The court noted that the convict was a mature adult and a married man with two wives, not a minor or a child, and that he had subjected a helpless girl to his lust. The suffering and rights of an innocent victim cannot be overshadowed by misplaced sympathy for an offender. The court found the death sentence to be in accordance with law and proportionate to the gravity of the offence.
The judgment is important, but punishment after a crime is only one part of the answer. The bigger question is why we fail to protect children before tragedy strikes. Parents must educate children about personal boundaries, safe and unsafe touch, and the importance of immediately reporting anything that makes them uncomfortable or afraid.
Parents must become friends with their children. A child who fears scolding or disbelief may choose silence even when something is seriously wrong. Sudden changes in behaviour, fear of a particular person or place, or repeated complaints should never be dismissed as stubbornness or mischief. Listening to a child and believing them can be the first wall of protection.
Schools must also take child protection seriously. Teachers and school administrations should provide children with safe channels through which they can report inappropriate behaviour without fear. Child protection is not an optional lesson; it is a social responsibility.
The state has an equally important duty. Police investigations in cases involving children must be professional and evidence-based. FIR registration, medical examination, forensic investigation and DNA evidence must be handled carefully. Prosecutors must prepare cases effectively, while courts should avoid unnecessary delays. Justice must not only be done; it must also be delivered in time.
We often become angry when a child abuse case makes headlines. Social media fills with condemnation, statements are issued and demands for punishment rise. Then another story appears and the previous tragedy fades from public memory. But for the family that loses a child, the tragedy never becomes yesterday’s news.
We must also break the culture of silence surrounding child abuse. The shame belongs to the offender, not the child. Children who speak about abuse need protection, support and belief—not blame, fear or silence. Society must understand that protecting a child’s dignity is more important than protecting its own false sense of social respectability.
The Peshawar High Court’s decision sends a strong message that violations of children’s rights and human dignity cannot be taken lightly. Yet courts alone cannot make children safe. Parents, schools, police, prosecutors, courts, media and civil society must work together to create an environment where children can grow without fear.
We proudly call children the future of the nation. But children are not merely our future—they are our responsibility today. Their safety cannot be postponed until tomorrow, and their voices cannot be heard only after tragedy.
The true measure of a society is not how loudly it condemns a crime after it happens, but how seriously it works to prevent that crime from happening.
If we fail to hear the voices of our children today, their cries may continue to echo in our conscience for years to come.
Syed Nouman Ud Din Advocate High Court
Leave a Reply