The tragic death of three-year-old Kulsoom has added her name to the growing list of children whose lives were cut short by predators in Pakistan. Kulsoom stepped out to play and never returned. The abuse she suffered before being killed, and the manner in which her body was left at her own doorstep, has shocked the nation. Even the police surgeon who examined her body described the case as one of the most horrific she had ever witnessed.
Alarming Statistics on Child Abuse
According to Sahil's latest Cruel Numbers report, as many as 3,630 cases of child abuse were reported across Pakistan during 2025. This means more than nine children were abused every single day. The report underscores a crisis that has been allowed to fester beneath the surface of a society that claims to value honour and protecting the innocent.
Failure of the Zainab Alert Act
The Zainab Alert Act was passed after public outrage over the murder of Zainab Ansari in 2018. More than five years later, its key provisions, including the agency designed to issue rapid alerts for missing children, remain unimplemented. The government has yet to fully operationalize the system that could help prevent such tragedies.
A Call for Accountability
Kulsoom will not be the last victim unless the state responds with more than just committees. The question of how many more children must be added to this list before meaningful action is taken remains unanswered. Every person in a position of authority should feel shame at the continued failure to protect the most vulnerable.
