APROPOS the news report ‘Three underage suspects given in police custody’ (March 14). The three boys were remanded for abducting and attempting to assault a nine-year-old girl. It is pathetic what is happening in our country. The thought bothering me is what will be the future of these boys and their victim?

The perpetrators, the oldest among them aged 13, seem a bit young to be handed over for physical remand. In my opinion it is their parents and elders who are to blame as they failed to monitor and supervise their wards.

I remember as a child I was never allowed to leave the house after sunset, and this restriction was enforced till I passed my intermediate exams. In those days, parents and elder family members kept a close eye on children. It is sad indeed that modern technology may have made us smarter but none the wiser.

This is my humble request to all parents to closely monitor children, especially now that the world has entered one’s house through the smart phone.

Syed Waqar Qadri
Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2018