Pakistani celebrities have condemned the rape and murder of an 18-month-old child in Karachi’s Qayyumabad, calling for swift justice, stronger child protection measures and greater awareness of risks children may face from people within their homes and families.

From Frieha Altaf to Adnan Siddiqui and Sanam Baloch, several public figures shared messages of grief and outrage, urging authorities to ensure accountability while highlighting the need for increased vigilance to safeguard children.

Actor and host Frieha Altaf questioned the country’s unrelenting crime rate, saying “none of this is new news.” “I’m sick to my stomach. An 18-month-old child gets raped and murdered by a relative in Qayyumabad, Karachi. A truly heinous crime committed,” she wrote. She warned that many cases of child sexual abuse involve people known to the victim.

“Sadly, parents trust friends, neighbours, domestic staff with their young sons and daughters. The biggest percentage of child sexual abuse comes from people you know and trust! As a survivor of this abuse, and the goodwill ambassador of Sahil NGO, I urge all parents to take more care with such decisions. Also, if your child tells you of any such incident or inappropriate touching, please believe them. Children don’t lie!” she added.

Actor Adnan Siddiqui also shared his reaction on Instagram.

“How depraved have we become? An 18-month-old baby. Eighteen months. The accused is reportedly just 17. That doesn’t lessen the horror; it deepens it. Feeling disgusted and heartbroken. There are no words left. Only rage, grief and shame that we have come to this.”

He concluded by praying for “swift and uncompromising justice” for the child and strength for the grieving family.

Screengrab: adnansid1/Instagram

Several other celebrities, including Aiman Khan, Mariyam Nafees, Ahsan Khan, Srha Asghar, Zhalay Sarhadi and Ayesha Omar, also shared messages expressing grief and demanding justice.

Read more: Pakistani celebrities call for teaching kids independence

Rubina Ashraf is a veteran Pakistani television actress, director, and producer who has been a prominent figure in the entertainment industry since the 1980s. Her hit dramas include Pas-e-Aaina, Tapish, Kasak, Do Bol, Khuda Aur Muhabbat 3, Iqtidar, and others. She also directed the acclaimed serial Ruswai. In her personal life, Rubina is married to Tariq Mirza, and together they have two children: a son and a daughter, Nawal Tariq and Minna Tariq, who also followed in her mother’s footsteps and entered the showbiz industry as an actress.

Today, Rubina Ashraf was a guest on Good Morning Pakistan. During the show, she opened up about the reality of postpartum depression in women after pregnancy.

Talking about it, Rubina Ashraf said, “As a society and as a social setup, we need to understand that pregnancy, postpartum, and pregnancy blues are real. No one knew about these things because there was no concept of them. The story ran for years that it is the job of every woman to give birth to children and that it is something normal, no matter how difficult it was for them or how they individually dealt with it. But now, people need to understand that when a girl is pregnant, her skin, body, and everything else is changing. Despite the happiness, she can suffer from anxiety, which is very real. If she is not taken care of and looked after, she can go into a really bad state of depression. The support and compassion of a husband are important from pregnancy to postpartum because it is a difficult time for a woman. You need care because it can become impossible for you to manage multiple tasks during pregnancy.”

Pakistani actress Nimra Khan has addressed growing speculation about her marriage after an emotional Instagram reel prompted fans to wonder whether she and her husband had parted ways.

The actress recently shared a heartfelt video featuring a motivational voice-over that encouraged people to stay strong even when life becomes difficult. The message urged viewers to rely on themselves during challenging times, reminding them that self-belief is often the greatest source of strength.

The voice-over said, “I want you all to promise yourself that whether life is tough, whether people stop understanding you, or no one supports you, never leave yourself alone. The day you become your own support, no one will be able to defeat you. You are sufficient for yourself.”

While many followers appreciated the uplifting message, others began reading into it after noticing that Nimra’s wedding photos no longer appeared prominently on her Instagram profile. The combination of the emotional post and the missing pictures quickly fueled rumours that the actress might be facing trouble in her marriage.

One concerned fan commented that they hoped everything was alright, pointing out that the wedding pictures had seemingly disappeared from her Instagram feed while wishing her well.

Nimra was quick to put an end to the speculation. Responding directly to the comment, she clarified that there was no problem in her married life and explained that the photos had not been deleted at all.

“Everything is fine, and the pictures are on Instagram. I just pushed them down in order to avoid the evil eye. Anyways, thanks for the dua,” she replied.

Her response reassured many followers, while others continued to praise the positive message shared in the reel. Several fans commented that the words had resonated with them, with one describing it as exactly what they needed to hear.

Nimra Khan announced her marriage in June 2026 by sharing photographs from her nikah ceremony in Paris. The wedding marked a new chapter in the actress’s personal life and was warmly received by fans across social media.

This is Nimra’s second marriage. She was previously married to UK-based Raja Azam in 2020 their marriage later ended after the actress publicly accused him of domestic violence.

One of Pakistan’s most popular television stars, Nimra Khan enjoys a massive following of more than 4.7 million on Instagram. Over the years, she has appeared in several successful drama serials, including Aye Musht-e-Khaak, Ehraam-e-Junoon, Uraan, Khoob Seerat, Baaghi, and Umm-e-Ayesha. Her performance in Umm-e-Ayesha earned widespread appreciation, while Ehraam-e-Junoon remains one of the biggest hits of her acting career.

Read more: Actress Nimra Khan confirms second wedding