The kidnapping and murder of seven-year-old Sarim has become a major challenge for the police, who have failed to make any progress in over two months.

Frustrated by the inaction, the child’s parents staged a protest outside the DIG West office, demanding justice.

Despite the passage of more than two months, the police have not arrested the killers of the young boy from North Karachi.

In a desperate plea for justice, Sarim’s parents held placards that read: “Sarim’s killers are free, the police have failed.”

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Authorities had detained 47 individuals during the investigation, but all were released due to a lack of evidence. No DNA matches were found, and no suspects were held for further questioning, leaving the case at a standstill.

During the protest, a heated exchange occurred between the grieving parents and police personnel, who tried to disperse them.

Sarim’s father expressed his frustration, saying, “Where should we go? Who will listen to us? If we have no hope, tell us, and we will sit at home.”

He also questioned the police’s handling of the case: “Committees keep forming, but where was my son for four to five days? Did the earth swallow him, or did the sky take him?”

The father accused the police of incompetence and corruption, alleging that officers were arresting people only to release them after taking bribes.

Case background

On January 18, the body of seven-year-old Sarim, who had been missing for 11 days, was discovered in an underground water tank near his home in North Karachi.

According to residents, a water valve operator noticed a foul smell and informed the neighborhood union, leading to the tragic discovery.

Reports suggest that the union had only covered the tank with cardboard without taking proper safety measures.

The police had previously searched the tank but found no evidence at the time.

Sarim’s disappearance first gained attention through social media, prompting Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori to visit the grieving family and express solidarity.

Child abuse statistics in Pakistan

According to an August 2024 report by Sahil, an NGO working for child rights, 1,630 cases of child abuse were reported across Pakistan in 2024.

In the first six months of the year, 862 cases of sexual abuse, 668 cases of abduction, 82 cases of missing children, and 18 cases of child marriages.

The data revealed that 59% of the victims were girls (962 cases), while 41% were boys (668 cases).