The jolt of Kasur

Strict punishment should be given to people who sexually abuse children. We should not only shun this criminal practice but also try to eliminate it completely from our society. The existing laws should be amended and enforced strictly. The National Assembly has approved the amendment to the penal code. The recommendations given forth include the death penalty for the assailant. Moreover, police officers who fail to take action in such matters will be sentenced to prison. In fact, forced marriages of minor-aged women and non-Muslim women will be punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment. Physical and sexual abuse of children has risen dramatically in the last few years. Unfortunately, several medical facilities in Pakistan do not even provide adequate treatment for victims of such abuse.
The Kasur tragedy jolted the entire nation, and in such circumstances, it is essential that we approve and implement this amendment as soon as possible. It is important to hold the reticent police officials responsible for not taking action against the accused offenders. We must also ensure that child abuse victims are protected against any possible abuse and ill-treatment in the future. A rigorous campaign is necessary to create awareness about this issue.
Javaid Bashir
Lahore