Upcoming telefilm based on Zainab’s rape, murder faces criticism

A telefilm is being made based on one of the most talked about rape cases of Pakistan - the  Zainab murder case - and social media users are not entirely happy with the decision.

Seven-year-old Zainab's rape and murder in Kasur, Punjab shook the entire country and made the entire nation realize the need to educate everyone about the alarming issue of child sexual abuse. However, basing a telefilm on the horrific incident has irked many social media users.

The minor girl's family feared for the worst when Zainab went missing on January 4 and all those fears came true when her body was found in trash. Soon after the body was recovered, the police revealed the frightening atrocities the minor girl had to go through before she died.

Little Zainab was raped, strangled and left in the trash heap. The incident is now being made into a telefilm but the social media is not happy about it.

A telefilm in being made on Zainab’s case and the poster for it is very disturbing, to me. Isn’t it too soon for making a film on that tragedy? Everything and every event should not be made into a money making media frenzy

— amna bushra (@ammo28) May 7, 2018

A telefilm on Zainab’s story. This is not awareness, it is sensationalism. Awareness can be raised in better ways, through a different story on the subject. This is capitalizing on a tragedy. How will the family feel, did they consent to it? Do the profits go towards the cause? pic.twitter.com/HPf9PhDhO6

— Maryam (@maryamful) May 7, 2018

I understand the cause and message in making telefilm ZainabKeQatil. But this wound is too fresh...and a child is involved here. Very painful for the parents or for anyone to relive this gruesome story...Spread awareness amd educate but don't make it painful and dehumanize it.

— Sobiah Qureshi (@SobiahQ) May 6, 2018

Some tv channel is making a serial on Zainab of Kasur :s i know awareness is needed in Pakistan but it just doesn’t feel appropriate and sensitive

— Main Abdul Majid Hoon (@ComicsByMajid) May 6, 2018

A local TV channel is producing the show named ‘Zainab Kay Qaatil’ starring some big names like Suhail Sameer, Hamna Amir, Irfan Khoosat and Saba Faisal among others. The telefilm is being directed by Aamir Yousaf.

The telefilm has been written by Umera Ahmed who also wrote the script of drama ‘Baaghi’, which was based on the life of late controversial social media sensation Qandeel Baloch.