A GIRL,13, was allowed to be taken from a private school in Karachi on the excuse that her mother was not well. She was abused, tortured, murdered and her mutilated body thrown several miles away in the vicinity of Sea View.

Finally, Faryal Talpur, the powerful sister of Asif Ali Zardari, has taken note of this incident. My question is: what if the perpetrators of this crime were scions of politically powerful feudals, business and real estate mafia tycoons, or connected to influential members of gangs patronised by political stakeholders of this unfortunate city? The law must enforce its writ without any fear or favour, otherwise crime will flourish in Karachi and not be humbled by the filthy rich, or those who have political clout.

What we face in Karachi are criminals who have no right to roam the streets and roads of the city, threatening lives and property of law-abiding citizens. Such heinous criminals must be hanged, not be recipients of favour by allowing their mercy petitions to be put away in deep freezers on flimsy grounds of human rights by the president.

RAHAT SIDDIQI Karachi