Ushna Shah slams society’s priorities after tragic child abuse case

Pakistani actress Ushna Shah has sparked a serious conversation online after speaking out about what she believes are society’s misplaced priorities following the tragic rape and murder of young Mantaha Zahra.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the actress expressed frustration over the amount of attention being given to entertainment controversies while cases involving violence against children fail to generate the same level of public outrage.

Referring to the reaction surrounding a recent podcast featuring dancer Nisha Ali Khan, Ushna said she had seen more criticism, reaction videos and discussions about an adult woman’s personal choices than about the rape and murder of minor girls in Pakistan.

Sharing her disappointment, Ushna wrote that the situation says everything about the “values” being promoted in society. She ended her message with a powerful remark in Urdu, writing, “Jab qaum hee beemar hai toh baar baar condemn kis cheez ko karein?” expressing her frustration over repeatedly condemning crimes while seeing little real change.

In another emotional post, Ushna mourned the death of Mantaha Zahra and said the country had failed her just as it had failed many innocent victims before her.

The actress argued that Pakistan continues to overlook what she described as a growing crisis of violence against women and children.

She questioned why discussions about child protection, women's safety, and justice are often pushed aside while social media remains consumed by less important controversies.

Ushna also criticized the culture of victim-blaming, saying society frequently places responsibility on victims instead of holding perpetrators accountable. She stressed that meaningful change cannot happen unless families, communities, and institutions take these issues seriously.

The actress further argued that boys must be raised with accountability and respect from an early age, warning that the cycle of violence will continue if society refuses to confront its deeper problems.