Mudassir Rizwan
The discovery of five newborn girls’ bodies discarded like refuse and mutilated by stray animals in Sialkot sends shockwaves across Pakistan, exposing a deep-rooted disregard for the lives of female children. This gruesome incident is not an isolated case, but part of a broader, more horrifying reality in which the lives of daughters are undervalued to the point of abandonment and death. It is a reflection of a society that continues to grapple with entrenched gender bias and moral decay, where female children are often perceived as burdens rather than blessings.
This tragedy highlights a pervasive issue that goes beyond just this incident. Newborn girls, abandoned to die in dumpsters, in empty streets, or left to the mercy of stray animals, are becoming an all-too-familiar sight in parts of Pakistan. The Sialkot case serves as a wake-up call, but sadly, it is merely the latest in a series of brutal acts against girls who are denied the most basic human dignity—life itself. While the police have launched investigations, reviewing CCTV footage and employing intelligence networks to track down the perpetrators, this incident raises a far more important question: what compels parents, particularly mothers, to discard their own flesh and blood in such a heartless manner? Why does this cruelty continue unchecked, despite the existence of laws designed to protect the vulnerable?
The grim reality is that the abandonment of newborn girls is not a rare occurrence in Pakistan; it is a tragic norm that reflects a systemic failure at multiple levels—societal, legal, and governmental. The reasons behind these heinous acts are multifaceted, but the root of the problem lies in the persistent and deeply ingrained societal preference for sons over daughters. In many parts of Pakistan, daughters are still seen as liabilities. The cultural obsession with dowries and the belief that women are financial burdens feed into this distorted view. This misconception is so deeply embedded that some individuals are willing to take the extreme step of ending a life rather than raising a girl.
The state has laws on the books that criminalize infanticide and child abandonment, yet the enforcement of these laws remains weak, and societal complicity continues to enable these atrocities. What’s more, the general silence surrounding these issues from both the public and private sectors only allows such barbarism to flourish. The question that must be asked now is: how many more girls must suffer the fate of being abandoned before the government, religious leaders, and society take meaningful action?
To address this crisis, the government must first strengthen the enforcement of existing laws. The weak prosecution of child abandonment cases and the lack of accountability for those responsible contribute to the perpetuation of these crimes. The law must be used as a deterrent, not just a piece of paper. Infanticide should carry severe penalties, and every person involved in such a crime, from the parents to the accomplices, should face the full force of the law. However, legal action alone will not solve the problem. More than simply punishing the guilty, a shift in policy and societal attitudes is necessary to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the first place.
One critical solution to the problem of newborn abandonment is the establishment of safe havens where desperate parents can leave their children without fear of punishment. Organizations like the Edhi Foundation, which already provides “baby cradles” where mothers can anonymously leave their children, should be expanded across the country. These facilities offer a safe alternative to abandonment, giving parents a chance to make a different choice. However, the sad reality is that these cradles are not enough. They are few in number and often far from where the need is greatest. The government must take action to ensure that these safe havens are more accessible, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to healthcare and social services is limited.
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The religious community, too, must play a pivotal role in combating this issue. Islam explicitly condemns the killing of children, regardless of gender. It is crucial for religious leaders to make their voices heard in condemning this practice and in emphasizing that the act of killing or abandoning a child is not only a crime but also a sin. The silence from religious figures in the face of such tragedies is deafening and only further perpetuates the belief that these acts are somehow justifiable. By actively speaking out, religious leaders can help shift public opinion and encourage a change in the way girls are viewed within the family structure.
Furthermore, a cultural shift in how daughters are perceived is long overdue. One of the primary reasons for the devaluation of female life in Pakistan is the societal belief that daughters are burdens due to the dowry system, limited economic opportunities for women, and patriarchal attitudes. The government must invest in the economic empowerment of women to change these attitudes. Vocational training programs for women, financial incentives for female entrepreneurship, and policies that promote gender equality in the workplace are essential steps in this process. When families see their daughters as contributors to the household economy, rather than as financial drains, the stigma surrounding their birth will begin to diminish.
Gender discrimination is not just a moral issue but an economic one. Women who are denied education and employment opportunities are often relegated to traditional roles, dependent on male family members for their financial wellbeing. This dynamic exacerbates the perception that daughters are a financial burden. By creating an environment where women can thrive economically, the government can help break down the barriers that prevent families from seeing the value in their daughters.
At the heart of this issue is the need for a fundamental shift in societal values. We must move beyond the outdated notion that the worth of a child is determined by their gender and instead recognize the inherent value of every human life, regardless of sex. This requires a collective effort from all segments of society—government, religious institutions, the media, and ordinary citizens.
In conclusion, the horrific case of the abandoned newborn girls in Sialkot is a symptom of a much larger issue: Pakistan’s systemic devaluation of female life. While the authorities have promised action, the real solution lies in a multi-faceted approach that addresses both the legal shortcomings and the cultural biases that perpetuate these tragedies. It is time for the government to take stronger action, for religious leaders to speak out, and for society as a whole to reevaluate how daughters are viewed. Only then can we hope to put an end to the senseless loss of life and give every girl in Pakistan the chance to live, thrive, and contribute to society.
