The three latest cases of rape and murder of girl children during the last three weeks have prompted local authorities in Peshawar to start an awareness campaign in Peshawar.

The Cantonment board in Saddar started an interfaith awareness programme in mosques, temples and churches. They are also targetting educational institutes to spread awareness about child abuse.

Three minor girls were found with signs of sexual abuse over the last three Sundays in Peshawar Cantt, out of which two passed away and one survived. The culprit was arrested on June 28.

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“It is a request, do not leave your children, boy or girl, alone, not even at the house of relatives. Keep an eye on them,” said an imam of a local mosque.

“We want this programme to spread as much as possible. We want all mosques to tell people to protect their children,” said a citizen outside the mosque.

“The response was overwhelming from all quarters, whether you talk about mosques, temples, churches or educational institutes,” said Cantonment Board’s Engineer Faizan Khan.

“Somebody’s child dying is a huge deal and I encourage people to come out in huge numbers to support the cause and to ensure that we can prevent such incidents in the future,” said another citizen.

We need to improve the protection we offer to our children in all of Pakistan because children are everything to us and they are our future,“ said a priest from a local church.

As a part of the campaign, a door-to-door initiative has also been set up for the markets and streets of Saddar, which is being well received by the public. People have also asked for the harshest punishments for those caught abusing children.

Child molestation is on the rise in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with at least 360 cases of child abuse being recorded in the province during the last year, a jump of 93%, as per the Central Police Office.