IT is disheartening that a deeply troubling and dangerous tactic is being employed by criminals in the community. These individuals are exploiting the reverence we hold for the Holy Quran to lure unsu- specting adults and children into their traps.

The method involves scattering pages of the Quran on the ground, creating the impression that these sacred pages have been desecrated. As it is ingrained in our teachings, children and adults alike feel compelled to pick up, clean and kiss these pages out of respect.

However, these pages have been laced with a potent chemical that causes those who come into contact with them to faint, making them easy kidnapping targets.

This heinous act not only endangers the lives of the people, but also tarnishes the image of the religion. It is appalling to see how some individuals dare to misuse our sacred beliefs for such nefarious purposes.

In fact, the situation raises a critical question: how have we allowed our society to reach a point where our own people are willing to exploit our religious values for such low-level deeds?

We must take immediate action to address this issue. It is imperative that we educate our children and community members about this dangerous tactic, and encourage them to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. Additionally, law-enforcement agencies must be vigilant and proactive in apprehending those responsible for these crimes.

We must work together to restore our image and ensure that such despicable acts do not define us. Let us not give the enemies of our country the satisfaction of seeing us destroy ourselves from within.

M. Abid Hafeez
Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2024