A student in Karachi has identified a man accused of sexually abusing over 100 children, police said.
The identification took place during a court-ordered parade at the Judicial Magistrate South’s office. The accused, named Imran, was placed among 10 dummies for the student to pick. The court sent him to jail on judicial remand after the identification.
Police said the student’s family had filed a complaint against Imran on December 19. He, along with his alleged accomplice Waqas, was arrested on January 17 in Karachi’s Tipu Sultan area.
Superintendent of Police East Investigation, Usman Sadozai, said the suspects were detained after inquiries into complaints filed between 2020 and 2025. At least seven cases had been reported against them during this period.
Investigators said Imran allegedly lured children on a motorcycle and sexually abused them near the Malir River. Police arrested both men after a 10-day investigation. Statements from multiple witnesses were recorded during this time.
Imran, a resident of Manzoor Colony, works as a tyre repairer. Police said he confessed to abusing dozens of children over six years. In the identification parade, children identified Imran in three cases. Waqas was identified in one case.
The case has raised renewed concern about child protection in Pakistan. More than 5,000 cases of violence against children were reported nationwide in the first half of 2025. Conviction rates remain very low.
The Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) documented 5,097 cases from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Islamabad between January and June 2025. Experts say the numbers show serious gaps in policing, justice delivery, and child protection systems across the country.
Authorities said they are taking the case seriously. Investigations are ongoing. Police are urging parents to remain vigilant. Experts stress the need for stronger safeguards to prevent such crimes.
