Introduction

This is my picture.

Do you remember me?

My name is Samawia. I am two-and-a-half-year-old.

Do you recognize this name?

Samawia (or Samavia) is an Arabic name which means ‘from heaven’.

I was born in Tajpura. Do you know where it is located?

Do you know where I am now?

I am back in heaven.

A few days ago, I was killed by a sick human looking creature.

I was abducted, raped, killed [AND IGNORED].

The bag which was used to dump my body also carried my toys.

Did you do anything for me? Anything to protest my murder? Anything to protect millions of vulnerable children such as myself in Pakistani society?

Did you care to know if my killer was arrested? Did you shed a few tears? Did you care at all?

Reflections

Four days ago, I read the following news item in the Express Tribune. The news item was ignored by most newspapers in Pakistan; but they were not the only one to ignore it.

A commentator (Haris Chaudhry at the ET website) legitimately asks: Where is the raging, frowning, chanting clergy now? They were there in their thousands on the remote suspicion of President granting pardon to a blasphemy accused. Sickening characters from top to bottom. Land of hypocrites and bigots.

May I add the following to Mr Chaudhry’s comment: Where is the civil society? Where are our social activists, journalists and bloggers?

Then I realize why did not Samawia deserve much respect and attention.

She was born into the wrong family, in the wrong place.

نہ مدعی نہ شہادت حساب پاک ہوا
یہ خون خاک نشیناں تھا رزق خاک ہوا

Here is the original news item:

A toddler’s tragic tale: Abducted, raped, killed [AND IGNORED]

December 16, 2010

Gujranwala: A medical report has proven that two-and-a-half-year-old Samawia, who was abducted and later killed in the Gurjakh Police precincts, had been raped.

The police have issued photographs of the main accused and also announced a reward of Rs100,000 for the anyone who helps in apprehending the accused. The Gujranwala Regional Police Officer (RPO) Tariq Yasin said that names of those who helped the police make the arrest would be kept secret. Samawia was abducted by a neighbour, Rahim, who later killed her and dumped her body in a trash bin.

The RPO issued orders for the arrest of the Gurjakh police station house officer (SHO) in this regard and Samawia’s blood samples were sent to lab for a medical test. A medical report proved that the child was raped and killed 55 hours ago. Samawia’s grandfather, Irshad Butt, told reporters that it seemed that Samawia died from the abuse.

The bag which was used to dump Samawia’s body also carried the child’s toys.

Over suspicion, the police have also arrested a private school owner, Dr Naseer, and a neighbour, Zafar Iqbal Cheema, who used to play with Samawia often.

On the application of the complainant Sajjad Butt SHO Haji Nabi Ahmed has also be transferred and Mudassar Butt will serve as the new SHO for the station.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2010.

http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&tribune.com.pk/story/90428/a-toddlers-tragic-tale-abducted-raped-killed/

Tears in Heaven for ‘From Heaven’.

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