KARACHI: A number of Pakistani celebrities have expressed grief and outrage following the death of an 18-month-old child in Karachi’s Qayyumabad area, calling for swift justice, stronger child protection measures and greater awareness about the risks children can face.
Public figures including Frieha Altaf, Adnan Siddiqui, Sanam Baloch, Mariyam Nafees, Aiman Khan, Ahsan Khan, Srha Asghar, Zhalay Sarhadi and Ayesha Omar took to social media to react to the incident and urge authorities to ensure accountability.
Actor and host Frieha Altaf questioned the continued occurrence of serious crimes against children and stressed the importance of parents remaining vigilant. She pointed out that children can face risks from people they already know and trust, including relatives, neighbours and household staff.
Altaf, who has previously spoken publicly about her own experience of abuse and serves as a goodwill ambassador for child protection organisation Sahil, urged parents to take children’s concerns seriously. She also encouraged families to pay close attention if a child reports inappropriate behaviour or raises concerns about an incident.
Actor Adnan Siddiqui also expressed shock and sorrow over the case, saying the reported age of the accused made the situation even more disturbing. He called for swift and uncompromising justice for the child and strength for the grieving family.
Several other celebrities also used their social media platforms to highlight the need for greater vigilance and stronger safeguards for children.
Mariyam Nafees urged parents to remain particularly careful about children’s safety, while Ayesha Omar questioned the wider social conditions that allow such incidents to occur. She called for society to reflect on the situation and find ways to prevent similar tragedies.
Actor Sanam Baloch also called for accountability and support for the affected family. Highlighting the responsibility of society to protect children, she said children’s safety should remain a priority.
The incident has triggered widespread anger and grief across Pakistan, with citizens and public figures demanding that those responsible be held accountable.
The growing calls for action have also renewed discussion about child protection, parental awareness and the need for effective measures to prevent abuse and ensure children’s safety in homes and communities.
