Murders by Minors

The absence of effective law and order has enabled crime to thrive in our society, endangering the lives and property of those without the resources or strength to seek justice. An emerging trend witnessed by the majority, thanks to social media, is the exercise by young individuals to take the lives of whomever they see fit without any fear of consequences - no fear of being recorded either. These acts are not restricted to murder but carry with them the heinous crimes of injury and kidnapping. However, the consistent repetition of such incidents should compel us to ponder why there is no end in sight.

The root causes of this growing crisis can be identified, though not limited to, the following factors: the pervasive influence of social media, which often glorifies and normalizes a culture of violence, and a deeply flawed justice system that fosters impunity by failing to deliver swift and fair consequences. When individuals see crime go unpunished and perpetrators walk free, it erodes any fear of accountability, further emboldening unlawful behavior. The combination of these elements creates an environment where violence is not only tolerated but, in some cases, even encouraged.

A few incidents, now deeply ingrained in our collective memory, are stark reminders of the issues. Each time we reflect on individuals who have evaded justice after committing murder to satisfy their egos, one name stands out above all: Shahrukh Jatoi. However, in recent years, new names have surfaced—individuals whose actions rival Jatoi’s in both audacity and disregard for the law. Their cases highlight the deep flaws in our justice system and signal a dangerous shift where accountability becomes an afterthought and crime an avenue for power and dominance.

The Shahrukh Jatoi, as well as the Noor Mukadam cases, are stark reminders of elite impunity and flaws in Pakistan’s justice system. In 2012, Shahrukh Jatoi, the son of an influential feudal lord, murdered Karachi student Shahzeb Khan over a minor dispute. Initially sentenced to death in 2013, his conviction was overturned in 2017 after Shahzeb’s family “pardoned” him. Following public outrage, he was re-arrested in 2018, only to be acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2022.

Similarly, in 2021, Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former diplomat, was brutally tortured and beheaded in Islamabad by Zahir Jaffer, a wealthy businessman. The case sparked nationwide outrage over gender-based violence and elite privilege. While Jaffer was sentenced to death in February 2022, the case has yet to reach a final conclusion, and he remains alive, keeping justice delayed and uncertain. While we could have hoped that this would be the last such tragedy, serving as a wake-up call for society to reflect, repent, and course-correct, reality has painted a far bleak picture. Instead of deterrence, certain individuals—emboldened by power, privilege, and a deep-rooted sense of impunity—continue to act as though they are untouchable, above any law or accountability. Like modern-day Pharaohs, they exploit a system that often bends in their favor, leaving justice elusive for the victims and their families. Time and again, we witness how power and privilege shield the guilty, allowing injustice to persist while the families of the victims are left to suffer in silence.