Senate committee concerned over child abuse cases in Kasur

Islamabad: Senate’s Functional Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the recently reported cases of child abuse in Qasur district and has directed the police to update committee members about progress on investigation after every 45 days.

The Committee members, in a meeting held under the chairpersonship of Senator Mohsin Khan Leghari, suggested including awareness on child sexual abuse in the curriculum and urged Pakistan television to create awareness among masses under Corporate Social Responsibility.

Responding to the queries of Committee members, RPO Shaikhupura Sahibzada Muhammad Shehzad Sultan said that in the year 2017, 111 cases of violence against children were reported in Shaikhupura, Nanka and Qasur and 115 arrests were made linked to those cases. 

He said that in Qasoor, seven cases of child sexual abuse were reported in 2017 which included cases of two boys and five girls murdered after rape. According to investigations, four cases seemed linked whereas other three incidents are of individual nature. He said that the perpetrators have been arrested and their involvement will be confirmed after the result of DNA tests.

Muhammad Shehzad said that cases of Qasoor scandal, reported last year, are in court and recent incidents have no link with that scandal. “All perpetrators of the mega scandal have been arrested after extensive investigation of Joint Investigation Team created on the instructions of Chief Minister,” he said.

Regarding the overall situation of child abuse in the district, Muhammad Shehzad said that police can take action only on reported cases. He said that security cameras have been installed in sensitive areas to keep an eye on such elements.

Director General Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) Muhammad Hassan Mangi said that the MoHR is planning to conduct a comprehensive study on socio-economic reasons behind large number of reported cases of child sexual abuse in this region. He said that study will be conducted in collaboration with Social Sciences Department of Punjab University. About Child Protection Bill, he said that the draft legislation has been passed by the Senate and currently it is with the National Assembly for approval.

Mangi also gave presentation on Universal Periodic Report (UPR) on Human Rights which Pakistan needs to submit to United Nations after every four years as a member state. He said that the draft of UPR has been prepared after an extensive consultation with stakeholders which will be submitted to United Nations Human Rights Secretariat on August 7, 2017.