The Human Rights Cell strongly condemns the heartbreaking incident in District Sargodha, where innocent girl Muntaha was brutally murdered. This incident is not only a tragedy for one family but also a question mark on the collective conscience of the entire nation and the responsibility of the state.
Tariq Mahmood Ghouri, Secretary Information, Human Rights Cell said:
“The cries of Muntaha are shaking the conscience of every conscious citizen today. When innocent girls continue to be victims of brutality from Zainab to Muntaha, and criminals roam freely, it must be understood that our social and judicial system is failing to fulfill its basic responsibility. This atrocity committed during the sacred days of Muharram-ul-Haram is enough to shake us to our core.”
Demands of the Human Rights Cell:
Immediate Arrest and Transparent Investigation: The Human Rights Cell demands that Sargodha Police and district administration stop being mere spectators and arrest all involved elements within 24 hours, and register cases against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act and relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Legal Reforms: No room should be left in the existing law for leniency or concession to perpetrators of child abuse and murder. The Human Rights Cell demands strict legislation on this matter in the assembly.
Establishment of State Authority: If the state cannot protect its innocent citizens, then it is its fundamental failure. The tears of Muntaha’s parents must be accounted for by this system and its rulers.
According to research and data available on the internet, only in the Sargodha region during 2024-2025, 87 cases of violence against children were reported, out of which immediate arrest of suspects could not be made in 62% of cases. According to the Punjab Child Protection Bureau, more than 1,200 reports of missing children were registered from across Punjab in 2025 alone.
