The rape and murder of eight-year-old Zainab a week ago in Pakistan's Kasur has left a nation shocked and angry. Amid protests on the streets and on social media, a Pakistani anchor has touched hearts with an unusual gesture.
Last evening, Kiran Naz of Pakistan's Samaa TV presented the news with her little daughter sitting on her lap, conveying a parent's grief.
"Today I am not Kiran Naz. Today I am a mother. That's why I am sitting with my daughter," Ms Naz said in her brief introduction before the channel's 7pm news bulletin on Wednesday.
The 1.50 minute long monologue by Naz sees her condemn the rapes and murders that plague the country. “It is true when they say that the smallest coffins are the heaviest and entire Pakistan is burdened by the weight of her coffin.”
Samaa news anchor Kiran Naz brings her own daughter into the studio #ImZainab #Justice4Zainab -- hear her powerful words pic.twitter.com/biXUhDkIdY
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) January 10, 2018
The alleged rape and murder of the 8-year-old girl triggered violent protests in Punjab province that left two people dead in police firing on Wednesday.
Kasur town, located a short distance from the border with India, had been tense after the girl disappeared on January 4 while on her way home from a tuition centre. Her parents were away on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, and her family circulated CCTV footage on social media that showed her with an unidentified man. Reports said the girl was allegedly raped multiple times before being strangled.
In the news bulletin, Naz points out the sad irony, that while the girl’s parents were praying for their daughter’s long life in Saudi Arabia and buying her toys, a “monster in Pakistan was raping her and throwing her body in trash. This is not just a child’s rape and murder. This is the entire society’s murder.”
Naz goes on to say that the 8-year-old’s rape and murder will once again initiate regret, investigation, committess, commission, enquiry and suo moto but, “the truth is that the girl does not need your justice. She will get justice by her God on Judgement Day when she questions her death and asks her fault.”
She was raped and murdered. #JusticeForZainab. pic.twitter.com/4RMyXUrAEx
— Ashraf Sherjan (@ASJBaloch) January 11, 2018
The girl’s father, on returning to Pakistan on Wednesday, told the media that he would not bury her till justice was done.
Naz ends the bulletin by saying that it is not just the girl who is dead, the whole of humanity died with her.
The man who killed her is still roaming free, which provoked deadly riots in Kasur, in which two protesters were killed.
On social media, people are using the hashtag #JusticeforZainab to express their anger.
#JusticeForZainab: How one little girl's brutal rape and murder has outraged Pakistan https://t.co/Gg5YepgUsV pic.twitter.com/533TpWYEAg
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 11, 2018
As a father of two daughters, I am shaken and terrified on this incidence. I pray for the family of Zainab and demand from all authorities to take the strongest possible action against the murderer. #JusticeForZainab
— Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (@RFAKWorld) January 11, 2018
#JusticeForZainab: How one little girl's brutal rape and murder has outraged Pakistan https://t.co/Gg5YepgUsV pic.twitter.com/533TpWYEAg
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 11, 2018
Heartbroken to hear about Zainab - a 7 year old child abused and brutally killed in Kasur, Pakistan. This has to stop. Gov and the concerned authorities must take action. #JusticeForZainab
— Malala (@Malala) January 10, 2018
Not often that you see a TV news anchor bring her own child to her news cast - @SAMAATV 's Kiran Naz did precisely that to make a point about how she felt as a mother in Pakistan #JusticeForZainab #Justice4Zainab pic.twitter.com/6XMXQJmfzV
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) January 10, 2018
Sad to see this hate from Zainab’s Father: “We’ve learned the investigation commission is headed by a Qadiani—hence cannot be trusted.”
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) January 11, 2018
Extremists pejoratively refer to us Ahmadi Muslims as “Qadiani.” For some—hate is greater than grief#JusticeForZainab pic.twitter.com/rqD0VkUHRy
Stand up for what’s right. #JusticeForZainab pic.twitter.com/rZtZOUi6Co
— MangoBaaz (@mangobaaz) January 11, 2018
My message on the horrific Kasur tragedy and the police brutality that ensued. #JusticeForZainab pic.twitter.com/3c7WMmLF0f
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 10, 2018
Demands put before Government and Supreme Court of Pakistan by Civil Society #JusticeForZainab pic.twitter.com/FcDM1qqE1p
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) January 11, 2018
Pakistan actress @TheMahiraKhan urges parents to educate their children about 'sexual abuse, good touch & bad touch', says sensitive topics should be made part of our course of studies. #JusticeForZainab pic.twitter.com/l3DylGV7f3
— Roohan Ahmed (@Roohan2Ahmed) January 11, 2018
