PESHAWAR, Nov 7: The murder of a minor in the Mardan district a few days ago following a number of similar incidents point to a growing tendency of child abuse in society.

Campaigners for the rights of children point out that in most of the incidents children were killed when criminals fail to have their way.

"The recent incident in which a 13-year-old boy was killed by an adult is an eye-opener for the civil society groups and for the government," said Arshad Mehmood of the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc). The man killed himself after murdering the boy.

Anwer wanted to entice the teenager who became alarmed and informed his father who reprimanded Anwer, warning him not to bother his son anymore. This infuriated Anwer who killed the boy and then himself.

Mr Mehmood said there was no child-specific law which could curb the curse of child abuse.

He emphasized that legislation in this regard was the need of the hour.-Bureau