What Is It Going to Take?
This opinion piece addresses the recurring issue of violence against women and children in Pakistan, questioning the state's failure to implement systemic changes. It argues that the legal system often relies on 'mental instability' as an excuse rather than providing proper assessment and preventive detention for dangerous offenders.
Why it matters
It highlights critical gaps in public safety and mental health policy regarding the handling of repeat violent offenders.
Every day in 2026, we hear the same kind of story: a girl goes missing and is later found dead. The victim could be a five-year-old child, an elderly woman, or a young girl. This is not simply a bad year. It has been happening for years. The only difference now is how frequently these stories occur.
Ayat Noor was five years old when she disappeared in Haripur. She was found dead 15 days later. Police said CCTV footage was used to identify the suspects. Might her life have been saved if the investigation had progressed more quickly? Why does a missing child have to die before the system is prepared to act urgently?
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