PROTECTING the CHILDREN: The growing violence against our children, especially young girls, is frightening. Parents should not allow their children to walk alone or travel unaccompanied. Similarly, schools and local governments should improve safety for children. The government should strengthen law-enforcement and punish the perpetrators. It should also increase print and electronic media ventures to educate families and communities about children’s security and due preventive measures. While awareness at the grassroots level is important, it is time to move from awareness to action. It is the duty of our society to protect children, especially girls, and this responsibility must be fulfilled immediately and effectively.

Hina Rasheed
Lahore

JUDICIAL TRIALS: The horrific abduction, assault and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Sargodha has once again exposed the glaring vulnerabilities regarding child safety in society. Despite the passage of several child protection laws over the years, the implementation remains profoundly weak. While political leaders quickly issue standard statements, or direct responsibility back onto parents, the state cannot absolve itself of its fundamental duty to protect its citizens. Relying on so-called encounters or erratic, reactionary measures in the wake of a tragedy is not a sign of good governance. We need institutional reforms, beginning with localised community surveillance, institutionalised child safety education, and expedited judicial trials is all child abuse cases.

Syeda Narmeen Kamal
Karachi

INFLUENTIAL PERPETRATORS: This refers to the report “Police vow no fear or favour in foreigners’ kidnap case” (July 6). No words are strong enough to condemn the gruesome event. Such incidents show that the edifice of law has collapsed and the fear of accountability has all but disappeared. The authorities must remember that foreign investment does not flow towards lawless states.

Arif Majeed
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2026