Kasur residents protest rise in rape, killing of minors

LAHORE: Residents of Kasur organised a rally to protest the failure of concerned authorities to crack down on criminals involved in raping and then murdering minor girls.

Cases of rape and murder have seen a rise in the city over the past few months. Participants of the rally said at least eight minor girls have been raped and then murdered in the past few days, but the accused have not been arrested yet.

The rally started from Railway Station Chowk and stopped at Adda Lilyani where the participants raised their voice against the heinous crimes.

Although police claimed of making some arrests in the cases, the protesters said they wanted to be informed who the accused were. The protesters chanted slogans against the police and demanded they be heard.

The Senate passed a bill in 2016, making sexual assault against minors, child pornography and trafficking a punishable act, but the incidents continue to take place unabashedly.

A child sexual abuse scandal in Husain Khanwala village of Kasur continues to haunt the locals, with this latest wave of yet other such incidents adding to the pain of the sufferers.

Around two years ago, local gangs abused and filmed hundreds of children in the village. They were said to be an organised gang of criminals who would also sell the videos later.

CM Punjab takes notice

Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the Geo News report and ordered provision of relief to the victims. The chief minister has also sought a report from DPO Sheikhupura and DPO Kasur.

Meanwhile, DPO Kasur has claimed that most of those involved in the heinous crime of rape and murder are in custody and many have been killed in encounters.