State is ignorant as children are being kidnapped: SC

Says parents get no relief; forms body to probe kidnappings; senior civil judge seeking recovery of son explodes in tears

LAHORE: A two-member bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday formed an inquiry committee to probe the kidnappings of children and sought a report about their recovery.

The Punjab advocate general will be the head of the committee and it would submit its report by August 25. The bench had taken suo motu notice on increasing number of incidents of children’s kidnappings across the Punjab, particularly in Lahore. The bench observed that it was a matter of grave concern that many children had not been recovered so far and the court held the police responsible for it.

Justice Saqib Nisar had taken suo motu notice on increasing number of incidents of children’s kidnappings and had sought a report from the IG. The Punjab IG had submitted a report that during 2011 to 2016 in Punjab, 6,793 children were abducted out of which 6,654 had been recovered and investigation was under process on 139 cases. During this year, four children were abducted for ransom. So far in the current year, 767 children were abducted out of which 715 were recovered.

The majority of children were kidnapped from Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and(intercity bus stops). Justice Mian Saqib Nisar termed such tragic incidents were violation of fundamental rights especially of life, liberty, safety and free movement and undoubtedly was of great public importance. 

News Desk adds: Senior Civil Judge Rawalakot Yousuf Haroon, whose five years old son has been missing for five years, exploded into tears in the courtroom and expressed distrust in police and requested for recovery of his child through other agencies. 

Justice Saqib Nisar asked him whether army or judges were authorized to conduct investigation. He assured the aggrieved judge that investigation would be assigned to whoever the latter wished. He said the prime responsibility lies with the police and the most regrettable thing is that once abducted, the children are not recovered. It seems that the state is simply ignorant of any reason for these abductions. He said none in the Punjab seems to be serious to bust the kidnappers’ cells.  

Asma Jehangir, former president of Supreme Court Bar, requested the court to form a committee which would submit its recommendations after meeting with parents and going through investigation details. Child Protection Bureau Chairperson Saba Sadiq submitted that the government was trying to resolve the issue.