Pakistan, Aug. 19 -- The reported attempt to assault an 11-year-old girl in Ferozewala is deeply disturbing. An incident involving a child cannot be treated as just another crime story. It is an attack on the safety, dignity and future of a young life.

The alleged assault must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Children should be able to walk to a relative's home, attend school and play in their neighbourhoods without fear of becoming victims of sexual violence. When an 11-year-old goes missing and is later found in a field with an alleged attacker, it exposes not only the cruelty of the accused but also the urgent need for stronger systems to protect children.

According to police, the suspect fled after being discovered but ...