Police records have revealed a troubling surge in child abuse cases across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with 370 incidents reported in various districts during the first seven months of this year alone.
Cases Reported Across District Police Stations
According to police sources, these cases were logged at police stations in multiple districts of the province, including Peshawar. The reports involve both boys and girls who were allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation.
370 Cases, Hundreds of Suspects Named
Officials say a total of 565 suspects were named across the 370 reported cases, and 486 of them have already been arrested. The scale of the arrests points to active investigation efforts, even as the overall number of reported cases continues to climb.
Majority of Cases Still Awaiting Court Verdicts
Police sources say 324 of these cases are currently being heard in court, with roughly 80 percent of them still awaiting a final verdict. Among the cases under review, around 10 involve situations where children were killed following alleged abuse, and authorities confirm that suspects in several of these cases have already been taken into custody.
66 Child Killings Reported in Seven Months
Separately, police sources revealed that 66 children were killed in unrelated incidents across the province during the same seven-month period. Multiple suspects linked to these killings have also been identified and arrested, according to officials.
Law enforcement sources describe the continued rise in child abuse cases in Pakistan, particularly across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s districts, as a deeply concerning trend that demands urgent attention from authorities and communities alike.
Ayat Noor Case Reignites Calls for Stronger Protections
The issue has drawn renewed public attention following recent cases in Haripur, including that of Ayat Noor, along with other reported incidents involving children. These cases have intensified calls for stronger child protection measures and more effective steps to prevent such crimes across the province.