Existing helplines are often ineffective or underused, as many people including children are unaware of or hesitant to use these services
By Amir Murtaza
The recent arrest of a fruit vendor in Karachi’s Qayyumabad area, for sexually abusing several children has shocked the metropolitan. It has also exposed serious flaws Pakistan’s child protection system. According to police, the suspect lured children into his shop and home since 2019, while secretly recording horrific assaults on minors. Authorities have recovered a mobile phone and USB drives containing hundreds of videos, and investigators fear the number of victims may exceed.
What is most disturbing is not only the scale of abuse but also the fact that it remained hidden for years in one of Karachi’s densely populated neighborhoods. This points to the absence of effective gatekeeping mechanisms within communities, where abusers can exploit children without detection. In this case, there was no early intervention, no suspicion raised, and no systems in place to monitor or respond until explicit material was accidentally discovered.
The horrifying case also reflects a troubling lack of awareness about the child-abuse risks, warning signs, and reporting channels among residents. In many communities, families believe their neighborhoods are safe and often ignore the danger posed by sexual predators hiding behind familiar and trusted roles like vendors, shopkeepers, or drivers. Silence, stigma, and fear further prevent children from disclosing abuse, as seen in this case where young victims initially remained quiet despite suffering physical and emotional trauma.
This case is not an isolated event but symptomatic of broader systemic failures. Pakistan’s child protection infrastructure remains weak, fragmented, and reactive. Laws exist on paper, yet enforcement is inconsistent, and coordination between police, social welfare institutions, and child protection authorities is minimal. There is no robust mechanism for community-based child safeguarding, nor clear pathways for parents and children to seek help. The fact that only after parents lodged FIRs did the police begin to act decisively underscores the reactive, rather than preventive, nature of the system.
The Qayyumabad case should serve as a wake-up call, reminding us that the prevention of child abuse cannot rest solely on police action after crimes have been committed. Communities must be equipped and empowered through awareness campaigns that break the silence around abuse and help families recognize warning signs. Schools should also implement safety programs to teach children about their rights, personal boundaries, and how to report abuse safely.
At the same time, neighborhood gatekeeping systems are essential, where residents, local councils, and child protection units work together to monitor risks and safeguard vulnerable children. These efforts must be supported by strengthened child protection authorities with adequate resources and clear mandates to intervene, monitor, and provide assistance to survivors and their families.
It is important to mention that Pakistan has a National Commission on the Rights of the Child, as well as child protection authorities and units at the provincial and district levels. These structures should be used more effectively, with strict government oversight to ensure accountability and protection for children.
The horrors uncovered in Qayyumabad reveal not just the actions of a single predator but the cost of society’s collective neglect. In a city of millions, one man preyed upon children for years without detection. A chilling reminder of how vulnerable our children remain.
As a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and after the enactment of child-specific legislation, Pakistan bears both a moral and legal responsibility to ensure children’s safety and protection. Still, the continuation of such cases shows a clear gap between policy and action. Unless Pakistan invests in awareness, accountability, and community-based protection, these tragedies will keep happening in front of us.
This is not the first time Pakistan has been shaken by the exposure of systematic child abuse. More than two decades ago, the Javed Iqbal case horrified the nation when the serial killer confessed to murdering over one hundred children in Lahore. Since then, numerous other cases, from the Kasur child abuse scandal to repeated incidents of sexual violence against minors, have surfaced, each time sparking outrage but little sustained reform. These tragedies show a sad pattern, people are shocked, officials make promises, but real prevention and protection are missing. The Qayyumabad case reminds us that without real reforms, such incidents will keep happening.
Beyond institutional reforms, there is also a pressing need to build trust between children, families, and authorities. Too often, victims remain silent out of fear of stigma, disbelief, or retaliation, while parents hesitate to approach the police due to concerns about corruption or insensitivity. Child-friendly reporting channels such as confidential helplines, community focal persons, and safe spaces in schools or health centers can offer children and families safe ways to seek help. However, existing helplines are often ineffective or underused, as many people including children are unaware of or hesitant to use these services. Without such trust and accessibility, even the strongest laws will fail to protect the most vulnerable.
Read: Children’s Life after the Orphanage
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Amir Murtaza is a Researcher and can be reached at amirmurtaza1@hotmail.com
