A distressing incident of child abuse has emerged from Shahnawaz Bhutto Colony, North Karachi, where two underage sisters were reportedly subjected to brutal beatings by their stepfather, police confirmed on Wednesday.
An FIR has been lodged at Khawaja Ajmer Nagri Police Station following a complaint from the girls’ maternal uncle. He alleged that Bushra, his sister’s second husband, has a history of violence against her daughters.
The FIR includes charges under sections pertaining to attempted murder.
According to the complaint, after Bushra remarried, she moved both her daughters, aged eight and sixteen, to live with her new husband. He allegedly subjected them to frequent physical abuse. The uncle stated he was informed of their deteriorating condition the previous day, after which the girls were immediately rushed to the hospital.
Police reported that the stepfather fled the scene after the girls were hospitalized and has been absconding since the incident.
Dr. Sumaiya, the Police Surgeon, noted that the signs of physical abuse on the girls’ bodies appear to be approximately five to six days old. Samples have been dispatched for chemical analysis, and confirmation regarding potential sexual assault will be provided once the test reports are received.
This case underscores mounting concerns about child abuse in Pakistan. A report released last month by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) revealed that 7,608 cases of violence against children were reported in 2024 alone, averaging 21 cases per day.
Sindh, specifically, reported 354 such cases last year, including 19 each of physical and sexual abuse, and 152 kidnappings. Alarmingly, none of these cases resulted in a single conviction.
Syed Kausar Abbas, Executive Director of SSDO, termed the conviction rates “unacceptably low” and advocated for structural reforms, including the establishment of specialized child courts and improved legal enforcement.
