The family of a seven-year-old girl, Muntaha Zahra, who was raped and murdered in Sargodha district of Pakistan's Punjab province this month, has demanded stern punishment for the perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to potential sexual offenders. The incident occurred on June 22 when Zahra went to a grocery store in Sargodha's Block 8 area and was allegedly raped and killed inside the building.
Details of the Crime
According to Pakistani media reports citing officials, police discovered Zahra's body from the upper floor of Hanif Kiryana Store. The victim's uncle told Independent Urdu that his niece's throat was cut and her clothes were torn. Police arrested four suspects, while a fifth suspect who fled was later killed in an encounter with police, according to the family.
Muhammad Shahid, Zahra's uncle, called for public executions: “They cannot be eliminated unless they are hanged in public. They should be given such a scary punishment that the whole world watches and no one dares commit such an act again.”
Public Outrage and Police Action
The incident sparked widespread anger in Pakistan, forcing Sargodha authorities to seal the store after enraged residents repeatedly attacked and damaged the premises. Sargodha police reported that samples from 18 suspects were sent to the forensic lab. Superintendent of Police Muhammad Imran stated they were interrogating the arrested suspects and “whoever had any role will be punished according to the law.”
Broader Context of Child Abuse
According to a report by the non-governmental organization Sahil, Pakistan recorded 3,606 cases of child abduction and rape in 2025. Incidents of child rape were also reported in Faisalabad, Peshawar, and Karachi last week. Social activist Mirza Aslam Baig from Sargodha expressed alarm, saying, “It is necessary to intimidate those who have such thoughts through legal action and special measures. Therefore, the criminals involved in such cases should be given punishments like public hanging so that the children can be safe.”
