The lifeless body of a 12-year-old boy, allegedly drugged and raped before being killed, was recently discovered in Tando Allah Yar. The child, a madrasa student entrusted to a religious institution for spiritual and moral education, met a fate that no child should ever endure. This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a disturbing pattern that has shaken the country in general and Sindh in particularly.
Across Sindh, a series of cases have been registered in recent months involving sexual abuse of children in religious seminaries and a few deaths in country. In Karachi's Landhi area, a Sessions court recently handed down double 15-year sentences to a cleric for sexually abusing two of his students. In Mirpurkhas, a faith healer was arrested for allegedly raping two teenage cousins. In Taxila, a 14-year-old madrasa student was allegedly raped by his teacher. The list grows longer with each passing week, and each case represents a child whose innocence was stolen in a place that was meant to be a sanctuary of faith and learning and in future to serve the nation in a particular manner. The tragedy of Imran of Tando Allah Yar is not merely a crime. It is a verdict on our collective failure to protect the most vulnerable among us. It demands more than outrage. It demands action.
According to recent reports, at least 2,003 child sexual abuse cases were registered across Pakistan, with Sindh recording 330 cases. Between 2018 and 2023, over 22,000 cases of child sexual abuse were reported nationwide. These numbers represent real children, real lives destroyed, and real perpetrators who continue to operate with impunity behind the walls of religious institutions. The problem is compounded by the nature of these institutions themselves. There is no central authority governing madrasa institution that can investigate or respond to allegations of abuse. Unlike hierarchical religious bodies elsewhere, Pakistan's madrasas often operate in isolation, with little to no oversight from the state functionaries. This vacuum has been exploited by predators who use the cloak of religious authority to silence their victims and evade accountability. The surviving victim of such offence dies each hour of life in the society.
The time has come for comprehensive and immediate reform. Revolutionary reforms are demand of the hour. Every madrasa must be required to install standard CCTV cameras in classrooms, corridors, courtyards, and all other areas of their premises. The footage must remain operational at all times and be retained sufficient time. This is not an invasion of privacy, rather it is a safeguard for children who cannot protect themselves. The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has already introduced such a policy. There is no reason Sindh cannot do the same.
The taboo surrounding sexual abuse must be broken. We cannot protect children if they do not know they are being harmed or if they are too afraid to speak.
The District administrations, in coordination with education and religious affairs departments, must conduct unannounced inspections of all religious seminaries. These inspections should include surprise medical examinations of students by teams formed under district health officers. Any suspected case must be reported immediately to the relevant authorities. All teachers and Quran instructors must possess recognized teaching certificates from accredited institutions. Their credentials, character, and previous records must be thoroughly checked before appointment. Those with questionable backgrounds must not be allowed to teach. Confidential complaint boxes should be placed in all seminaries, accessible only to authorized officials. There must be a strict check and balance on meetings between children and their parents. No child should be denied access to family members.
Regular parent-teacher meetings must be mandatory, and parents must be given unfettered access to their children. The leave of molvis and teachers must be properly documented and monitored to prevent any unsupervised access to students. Children in madrasas must be taught about their rights, about what constitutes abuse, and about how to report it. The taboo surrounding sexual abuse must be broken. We cannot protect children if they do not know they are being harmed or if they are too afraid to speak. Comprehensive awareness campaigns addressing assault and sexual harassment are urgently needed.
Those who abuse children in religious institutions will face the full force of justice. The 2026 Criminal Law Amendments, which insert new Sections 376B and 297A into the Pakistan Penal Code, creating standalone offences for custodial and institutional sexual abuse with aggravated penalties, are a welcome step. But more is needed. Enhances punishment for religious clerks, teachers, and molvis convicted of sexual abuse, with minimum sentences that reflect the gravity of betraying a position of trust. Impose a complete ban and permanent blacklisting of such individuals from holding any public or private job for life; and Makes it mandatory for all madrasas to register with the state and submit to regular audits and inspections. The Madrasa Registration Bill 2024 introduced significant reforms aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability. It must be enacted and enforced without delay. Seminaries found violating child protection directives must face legal action, including suspension or cancellation of registration.
The devastating impact of child sexual abuse on victims and their families have been often seen. The psychological scars last a lifetime. The betrayal of trust by those who are supposed to be guardians of faith and morality is a sin that cannot be forgiven through mere words. The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has rightly declared that no child should suffer in the name of education. This is not a political issue. It is not a religious issue. It is a moral issue that cuts across all boundaries. Every child in Pakistan, whether in a madrasa, a school, or any other institution, has the right to safety, dignity, and protection. The death of Imran in Tando Allah Yar must not be in vain. It must be the catalyst for change that this country so desperately needs. We owe it to him, to every child who has suffered in silence, and to every parent who entrusts their child to an institution of learning, to act now. The silence must end. The abuse must stop. And justice must prevail.