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Zainab's rape case is being made into a telefilm but people are skeptical

Zainab's rape case is being made into a telefilm but people are skeptical

The film aims to highlight how the media handled and reported 6-year-old Zainab's rape and murder
Updated 08 May, 2018

An issue like child abuse is a pretty difficult one to bring to screen fairly but if done right (Udaari is proof of that), it can really help in creating awareness about this evil.

Zainab, a 6-year-old little girl from Kasur went missing on 4 January, when she was allegedly abducted. Her body was found the following Tuesday by the police. She had been raped, strangled and left in a trash heap.

The incident caused outrage on social media. And now local TV channel APlus has announced that they will be making a television film, Zainab Kay Qatil to highlight the brutality against children that is rampant in our society. The project's cast includes Suhail Sameer, Hamna Amir, Irfan Khoosat and Saba Faisal among others and is being directed by Aamir Yousaf.

Kashif Kabeer, the executive producer of the project explains what compelled them to take up the mammoth task of telling Zainab's story. "Often when such incidents occur, the media/social media sensationalises the news to the extent that they completely forget how it affects the victim's family. The case is used to just further boost ratings, as a means to an end."

"We're not doing this for fame or trying to use the situation for our own advantage but as a production, we tried to criticise our opportunist society and media who does just that. We have over 65 key characters so we'll be looking at what happened from many different angles. We'll also tackle how morning shows covered the news or how bureaucrats reacted to it," he added.

Kabeer also shared that the telefilm will be played in cinemas also and they hope to take it to festivals abroad too.

"It will be released in three episodes so we'll have it on television, we'll have viewings in cinemas in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad where we plan to invite a lot of the media, activists, bloggers, actors and influencers so we can raise more awareness about the issue of child abuse," he said.

The telefilm has been written by Umera Ahmed, who also wrote the script for Baaghi as well as Behadd, a 2013 telefilm also about child abuse.

Ahmed refused to comment when Images reached out to her.

Reactions on Twitter regarding the upcoming film have been doubtful, with people saying the "wound is too fresh" and how it doesn't feel "appropriate".

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Comments

Khatri May 08, 2018 01:51pm
Please naked the wounds of family again by reminding them the pain they already gone through.
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Khaled Shafiq May 08, 2018 01:52pm
ASHAMED TO READ ABOUT MAKING FILM ON INNOCENT GIRL.DONT MAKE DIRTY MONEY IN THE GARB OF JOURNALISM.
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Abdulla Hussain May 08, 2018 02:18pm
Good news, good for creating awareness but what about the punishment to her killer. When will he go to the gallows.
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Shahbaz Ahmed Tarrar May 08, 2018 02:20pm
What is the need to recall the story that hardly forgotten. Please don't do that for your own benefits.
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Alanore May 08, 2018 02:29pm
This is wrong. Stop this production ASAP.
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Khatri May 08, 2018 02:32pm
Please avoid spreading negativity... I suggest rather make film/ Drama on kids like Arfa Kareem, which gives hope to youth.
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Azhar Rathore May 08, 2018 02:59pm
What is the sense in making a film on this incident. This country cannot even bring real criminals to justice. They continue to remain behind the scene. In fact those who raised the real issue have been penalised. It is a shame to all responsible.
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Alanore May 08, 2018 04:09pm
This is so wrong; This production need to stop ASAP
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Abid May 08, 2018 04:19pm
Does this tragedy needs a film to elaborate further. Everyone already knows what happened... This film will add more grief to her family.
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Saif Zukfiqar May 08, 2018 06:26pm
People should not be allowed to make money from this SHAMLESS event of the country.
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Jawaid Islam May 09, 2018 12:35pm
Let it not air, it's so gross what happened and it should remain a painful reminder and not be dramatized.
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Mehreen May 09, 2018 05:04pm
Rather than making a telefilm on Zainab's life why not do the following: 1. Parents should educate kids about the evils they can face and how to tackle them. 2. Schools should educate teachers, other staff and the students on how to remain vigilant against child abuse. 3. Run television and radio campaigns on how to spot a child abuser and how to keep your child safe.
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