On Friday, Mansehra police detained a man suspected of raping an eight-year-old girl the day before, as revealed by authorities and reported by Dawn. Mansehra District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur stated that a First Information Report (FIR) had been filed against the suspect at Garhi Habibullah police station.
Confirming the assault, Gandapur mentioned that a case had been registered under the Child Protection Act, and the suspect had been apprehended. He also asserted personal involvement in overseeing the case and mentioned the establishment of a special investigation team, according to Dawn’s report.
In a video statement, Gandapur assured that they had visited the victim in the hospital and promised the family that justice would be served, with strict legal repercussions for the accused. The DPO’s office directed designated officers to conduct an impartial investigation and ensure appropriate punishment for the accused. Additionally, Gandapur instructed the Victim Support Service Team Mansehra to provide medical and psychological assistance to the girl.
Over the last two decades, Pakistan has witnessed a troubling shift in social development approaches, with an increasing emphasis on accommodating Muslim sensitivities in development efforts.
This trend has exacerbated existing challenges within Pakistan’s legal framework, perpetuating societal stigma surrounding gender and sexuality while prioritizing clerical authority over human rights advocacy.
According to Sahil, an NGO dedicated to children’s welfare, a total of 4,213 child abuse cases were reported in 2023 across all provinces, Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan. These cases included various forms of abuse such as sexual abuse, abduction, missing children, and child marriages, as reported by Dawn.