Daily Times

In February 2018, the tragic story of an under ten years old Zainab hit the headlines. Zainab was raped, murdered and thrown in a garbage dump in the city of Kasur.

Civil society, media persons, almost every one, was shocked.  In the media some were genuinely concerned and disturbed and many used it as a sensation for ‘ratings’ and for advertisement revenue on electronic media.

Zainab was an innocent, charming child of about eight years. Her parents seemed religiously inclined. Her parents left for Umra leaving her at home with some people, probably relatives and friends.

Umra is a sacred wish of Muslims but it is not a part of ‘ Haqooq ullah” which means rights due to Almighty. On the other hand, taking care of children, is a priority in “ Haqooq ul Ibad” which means rights due to fellow humans and on top of these are rights towards children and parent. As far as I understand the Almighty indicates that fulfillment of ‘Haqooq ul Ibad’ must take priority. Why could the parents not take their child along? Parents were not going on a honey moon! If Zainab was along she would have been initiated into Muslim sacred places. Finances don’t seem to matter because her ticket would be just ten percent. I find it hard to understand the mindset of such parents. It seems hard hearted carelessness unless otherwise proved. They were punished and will suffer all their life for the neglect and heartless carelessness.

When the whole world cried on the tragedy of Zainab a CCTV, street camera, recording appeared showing Zainab holding the hand of someone and playfully walking in the street. She was probably holding the hand of her predator. After this Zainab’s body was found in the garbage dump.

Society shouted, it screamed. There was nothing more urgent than the tracing of the rapist killer. For once it seemed that the conscience of the society had woken up. Many journalists looked in depth. The molestation of boys also got attention also, which was otherwise a routine matter and almost forgotten. The depth and organization of this criminal act was spotted and found to be much more organized, more spread out and almost a big business.

There was so much noise that even the otherwise sleepy government functionaries woke up from their slumber. Politicians were being accused by media. Social Media even spotted people from the government party to be shareholders in the morbid pedophile business. The business seemed deeply rooted with international connections. The torture, rape, killing were filmed and were the source of enjoyment of the sick, very sick minded people, round the world. Investigative journalists indicated that centers of business were many but Kasur seemed to be the biggest. The Zainab tragedy resounded and would not go away. The pressure built up to the extent that Punjab politicians, Chief Minister and the bureaucracy was forced to take action. DNAs of several suspects were collected. All media and society demanded action from the government and punishment for the culprit. Society desired exemplary punishment. Some desired public hanging. All focus was on punishment and revenge by the society. Finally culprit was identified. Case was brought to court and accused, one Imran, was ordered to be given death. He was suspected to be a part of a mafia. Imran appealed against it but appeal was rejected.

Silence has followed since then. The mafia is not in focus. Nobody knows what happened to the culprit. Media got busy with usual scandals and political bickering. If a mafia was involved it escaped focus. Life was as usual again.

The morbid illness of the society will continue to exist. No long term measures have been designed. Another ‘Zainab’ and possible many innocent girls and boys will be molested, raped and murdered in days to come. Members of the society and authority are out of focus and pedophiles will get back to their business with more caution. That is why I say:

“ A ‘Zainab’ will be raped, murdered, and found in garbage”.

There is no doubt that the culprit MUST be given exemplary punishment. All his accomplices should be caught and the law should be implemented firmly, and publicised to create an example, a deterrent.

All this must be done but this is not all. Much more is required.

The recurrence can be avoided if those who are responsible for social peace, and law and order have a resolve to remove or, at least reduce, the basic illness in the society with long term measures. The crime is committed sometimes due to born mental defects. Unfortunately, most of these mental disorders are created, by the society. These are mostly initiated by the mistreatments of the young by elders.

How does the criminal intent and mental disorder develop?

I would like to refer my readers to an article in Daily Times of February 28 by Mr. Aamer Sarfraz entitled “Psychopathology of a serial killer” on page A6. As a specialist Mr. Sarfraz made a very valuable contribution in understanding the article should be read in entirety by all those who want the crime to be checked. I quote 2 paragraphs:

“Imran’s frustration with his lack of progress in a naqabat career grew over the years along with the sexual abuse he had suffered as its price. After puberty, he becomes a fringe member of this group who now trapped other victims but prostituted themselves if short of cash. They also watched porn together and planned to make videos of their victims and sell those on the Internet as an alternate career”

The criminal Imran Ali narrated the details of the crime unemotionally to Mr. Anwar Sarfraz. He brutally killed without any feeling at all. Dr. Sarfraz did an extremely valuable service to the society as a professional psychologist and deeply appreciate it as a student of psychology myself. His concluding paragraph also needs immediate attention.

Quote “Imran Ali is a heartless, manipulative individual with blunted emotions, impulsive inclinations and inability to experience guilt or remorse.”……. “ at a subconscious level, he was perhaps trying to punish his family, the society and the law enforcing agencies for robbing him of the childhood due to his innocent wish to be a ‘naqeeb’. Psychopaths and serial killers may also have some damage to the frontal lobe, hypothalamus and limbic system of their brain……..” Unquote.

The case of Imran Ali the serial killer is much beyond repair and the right action is to implement the law and the death sentence be executed as soon as possible. It should be done in a way that it is seen as a deterrent for all such criminals. Several innocent girls are still being raped and killed. “Zainab” is a symbol. In addition many young boys are meeting similar fate. The sexual abuse of boys goes mostly unnoticed. Boys are abused in a very large number and mostly by those who claim to be protectors of religion. Society jokes about it! Is it a Joke? See the product of this misuse in Imran Ali!

As far as social conscience is concerned, the response is disappointing. The matter of Zainab got the attention of the civil society. So much noise was made that even an otherwise sleepy bureaucracy, and absent minded politicians were jolted. Police ran about and found the culprit. Case was presented to the court and death sentence was announced. Then the appeal was rejected.

Immediately the civil society went back to its slumber.

There is hardly any mention of what happened afterwards. Although more cases of rape and murder are being reported. Is the matter being hushed up? Is the money and power taking control of the conscience of the society? What happened to the journalists? Has the crime mafia taken control? It seems so.

So if I suspect that more ‘Zainabs’ will continue to be raped and killed is a very likely scenario.

However I would not like to believe that this can be what society is willing to tolerate. As yet I am not disappointed in the conscience of the society to this extent. It may be close but not yet there.

Let me humbly contribute as to what needs to be done.

The intensity of quick action taken in the case of Zainab must continue. All such criminals must be identified throughout the country and brought to books. The law must be VISIBALLY implemented. It is not known as to what happened to so publicized criminal Imran Ali! In the short term what we need is an operation like ‘Zarb e Azb” and “rad ul Fasad” throughout the country.

In the long term we need to set up a board of psycho Analysts, therapists, educationists, religious scholars and legal experts, to initiate a policy of social reform. As Aamer Sarfraz points out that we are “ living in a society that is increasingly religious and considers sex education a taboo, at the mercy of the police who are inefficient and frequently complicit”

The growth of energy in the young must be recognized. It is a fact that energy is part of the growth that almighty gives to the humans and all living beings. The  ‘libido’, the energy of the sexual drive as a component of the life instinct, is part of it and the families and societies must recognize and sublimate it as their duty. Rejection causes frustration and anger. Exploitation like in the case of Imran Ali ensures criminal behavior and unconscious hate for society. Awareness of the energy in growth, and youthful consciousness, is an essential part of individual’s life, and the society should design educational programs and domestic awareness in elders for the understanding of it. Religions aim at improving human attitudes and making a better society. If any claimant of religious understanding causes damage to society  then he/she is unknowingly failing in its duty. All media-men , at all levels including writers, comperes, owners, and advertisers cannot be absolved of their social responsibility. Careful evaluation of the effects of short term financial gains must be made. It should be ensured by all individuals that by their action the long term interest of the society is not compromised.