Trigger Warning: Sexual Abuse, Rape, Child Molestation
There really doesn’t seem to be much progress, or hope, for Pakistan with regards to safety of women or children. In the holy month of Ramazan, the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl, Farishta Mohmand, has shocked the country. The body of the little girl was found dumped in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad. She is alleged to have been missing for 5 days before being found in the capital.
10-year-old Farishta’s rape and murder has shocked many people, who are taking to social media to express their fear and disgust
Another zainab murdered😢😢😢.
10 years old girl #Farishta was kidnapped, raped and killed in safest city and capital of Pakistan.
We want…#JusticeForFarishta pic.twitter.com/x7cmwV17u9— Aimal khan (@Aimal_khan47) May 21, 2019
People are demanding justice for the bereaved family
Extremely gutted & broken over the brutally rape & then killing of an innocent flower by the name of Farishta belongs to mohmand district KPK. She was kidnapped from her home in ISB. What kind inhuman souls existing in our Society. We demand immediate Justice!#JusticeForFarishta pic.twitter.com/wou6q6N0Uu
— Muhammad Ali (@ChM_Ali_) May 20, 2019
People are so concerned that as soon as news of the little girl broke, she’s become a top trend on Pakistani social media
On top of this, police and medical personnel are said to have refused to cooperate by not registering an FIR, and refusing to undertake a post mortem
Disgusted & horrified. 10-year old child went missing 5 days ago but police refused to register FIR. She was raped & murdered & #PolyClinic hospital is refusing to carry out post mortem. Shame on this system of useless police & hospitals, only cronyism works. #JusticeForFarishta
— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) May 20, 2019
In an effective system, Police would have registered FIR upon complaint from the child’s parents about her being missing, traced her & abductors, & prevented her rape & murder. But no, even the hospital won’t carry out a post mortem after all that happened. #JusticeForFarishta
— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) May 20, 2019
The protest continues to bring justice to Parishman believers in front of the Polyna Clinic Hospital Islamabad, yet the post-mortgage post is not being postponed until the post-mortem is issued.#JusticeForFarishta @mjdawar pic.twitter.com/lzrD6XhvJY
— شين ملنګ (@Sadia_8877) May 20, 2019
Her father was found crying outside the hospital where her medical tests were supposed to be done, due to lack of support from the institutions for investigation into his daughter’s murder
شاید والدین نے یہ سوچ کر نام فرشتہ رکھا ہوگا
کہ انسانی معاشرے میں انسانوں کے روپ میں چھپے درندوں کو فرشتہ نام سے حیا آئے،
مگر ان درندوں نے تو نام فرشتہ کا بھی لحاظ نہ رکھا. #JusticeForFarishta pic.twitter.com/QRrTNUBbaj— شہزاد خان 🇵🇰 (@i_shazaad) May 21, 2019
People are disgusted by the incident and horrified for the safety of children in Pakistan
Images of her brutally mutilated body have been circulated on social media adding more fuel to the fire.
I am so scared for the kids around me. I can’t even imagine what she went through!! I wouldn’t wish this on anyone…may Allah help them get through this difficult time.
Shame on all those who could have done something but didn’t. I hope you rot in hell. #JusticeForFarishta
— 𝔄𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔟 (@awraxq) May 20, 2019
Another murder, another story
I cannot bear anymore
I cannot hear anymore
I can’t tear anymore
I can’t live with fear anymore#JusticeForFarishta pic.twitter.com/aMAXuyoHN8— najeeb marwat (@najeebmarwat18) May 21, 2019
After hours of the police refusing to cooperate, Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari was contacted to step in and finally the case began moving forward
Update: Just spoke to @ShireenMazari1 she is following up the case closely, Postmortem has been done and there will be an update on FIR soon. #justiceForFarishta https://t.co/VtTxwphnKH
— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) May 21, 2019
This case has come to light just over a year after a similar incident with 7-year-old Zainab
There was a lot of hue and cry back then, government institutions had vowed to make things safer, there was legislation enacted in the name of Zainab to help protect children of Pakistan from sexual abuse but sadly, in practice, nothing much has changed. Farishta’s case has become a national story only because it is so gruesome but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of children in Pakistan who are sexually abused on a daily basis who don’t end up murdered therefore no one finds about them.
We, as a society, really need to re-evaluate our morals and priorities. Is our morality only for show or do we really care about human rights, dignity and safety of the women and children of this country like one is supposed to?
This is a developing story.
Here’s What Pakistan Has Actually Done So Far To Protect Its Children After Zainab’s Tragic Incident
I Suffered Sexual Abuse Since I Was 6, I Couldn’t Speak Up Earlier Because I Was Told It Was My Fault
Cover image via: @ChM_Ali_ / Twitter