THERE is a saying: the smallest coffins are the heaviest to shoulder. The nation from Karachi to Khyber these days is lachrymose and grieving. The burden of Zainab’s coffin is a big burden for it to shoulder.

Who would believe that a country where a seven-year-old is first raped and then murdered was formed in name of Islam? Lachrymose and weepy, the nation demands justice for Zainab’s muder.

It is high time for the concerned authorities to understand that this is not a regular case of murder. Rather, it is a case where a precedent needs to be set in order to save the future generations from this brutal atrocity.

Justice should be served in the most speedy and accurate manner. Not only the culprit but also those who have shown criminal negligence in nipping the evil in the bud should be punished. Otherwise, this case is also going be shelved like all others.

Babur Ali, Dera Ghazi Khan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

(2)

YET another flower was crushed before it could blossom — a seven-year-old girl brutally raped and murdered.

A local NGO’s report states more 2,000 children were abused and molested in 2015. According to the report, the cases reported in Punjab were proportionately higher than the other provinces.

The state must form a policy to protect children as well as device a mechanism to watch closely maniacs who prey on children.

Imran Umer
Hub city, Balochistan

(3)

ZAINAB’S murder is not the first incident in that small town. It is the ninth incident.

Advances in forensic sciences have made possible the profiling of criminals and suspects by small clues like saliva and fallen hair. In this respect, basic DNA profiling can be used to find a relative of the rapist. A high number of genetic markers will indicate a relative (16+) who can then lead the authorities to the killer. The rapist almost definitely lives close to where her body was dumped.

It is not difficult in modern times to carry out a DNA check of all residents in the vicinity and locate the culprit. This type of familial search has been highly effective in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.

Another option is geo-fencing of mobile phones. I know for a fact that the Pakistani law-enforcement authorities have the capability to determine which mobile numbers were in the vicinity at the time of the incident.

All mobiles can then be scanned and their current location determined. The numbers will run into hundreds of thousands but the effort is worth it.

The authorities have a good idea of the date and time of the abduction and are pretty certain of the date and time of the dumping of the victim’s body. This can be cross referenced to see if there are any matches.

Mohammed Habib
United Kingdom

(4)

THE Kasur tragedy shows just how much our society has deteriorated morally.

Zainab’s kidnapping and murder depict extreme inhumanity among some of us. This incident also shows apathy of the administration and the law enforcement agencies, who fail to prevent such barbaric incidents in the city.

On the other hand, violent protests by the people also depict an increasing trend toward violence in our society. Instead of a peaceful protest against Zainab’s murder, people opted for violence.

To make matters worse, the police opened fire on protestors, killing two people and injuring seven.

This murder and the subsequent chaos should be a lesson for all of us. We should now ensure such incidents are not repeated.

Ibtesam Ashjha
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2018