This post is also available in: العربية (Arabic) اردو (Urdu)
Ever since the tragedy of 7-year-old Zainab Ansari’s rape and murder struck Pakistan, a huge majority of the country has awakened to the scourge of pedophilia and child abuse that exists in our society, and has been prevalent for decades.
Since the incident, people have started discussing this vice of our society, and have been trying to find out ways to curb this bitter reality in all possible ways. However, sometimes, the people we trust the most, end up hurting us beyond repair. That is exactly what has happened to renowned folk celebrity.
Nazia Iqbal, a famous Pashto folk singer, who has produced great cultural hits, has accused her blood-brother of raping her two minor daughters. Nazia’s younger brother, Iftikhar, was called over by the ‘Za Liwanay’ singer to take care of her daughters, babysit them, because of her tough routine of recordings and gigs, including concerts and traveling.
Nazia’s husband too, an employee, used to be busy with his office work. Thus, Nazia had to resort to take favors from her brother in babysitting her daughters, aged 12 and 8. Iftikhar had traveled all the way from Swat to Rawalpindi to put out the chore but conceded to his pedophilia. As per Nazia, on Wednesday morning, she woke up to one of her daughters crying.
As soon as she rushed into the children’s room, she saw her young brother Iftikhar raping one of her daughters. Panicking out of control, Nazia started screaming and yelling, and ran to wake her husband up. When the couple returned, Iftikhar had fled the scene, her house, in Bahria Town Rawalpindi.
Upon contacting the police, Iftikhar’s name was nominated in an FIR and soon after, he was arrested by the Rawalpindi police. The best thing about the incident is that Nazia Iqbal did not keep quiet and ‘keep it in the family’ – instead, she presented the case in front of the public as well, to teach others that our children are safe from nobody.
As shocking as the incident is for many people, things like these prevail in our society and the protection of our children from this scourge is our biggest task at the moment. From their schooling to where they go for tuition and extra-curricular activities, it is our job to keep a know how of what kind of people surround us.
However, just as Nazia’s case, if one cannot trust their blood, their brothers or fathers, then how can we trust strangers? Indeed, the incident is very hurtful and eyeopening.
