PTI chief’s wife declared ambassador

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s wife Reham Khan said on Sunday that it was the responsibility of the society to provide clean atmosphere to street children.
“We have to change the mindset before beautifying Peshawar as doing so will be the real change,” she told a function at the Chief Minister’s House here.“It is our collective responsibility to provide education and health facilities to the street children as these are our children,” she maintained.
The Social Welfare Department had organised the event titled “The State Children, Declaration and Roadmap” in connection with the International Children Day for Street Children.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Minister for Social Welfare Dr Mehr Taj Roghani and representatives of the government departments, national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and members of the civil society were present on the occasion.
The emotionally charged Reham Khan, who was declared ambassador for street children, said it was her dream to work for these children.
She met every child, boys and girls, apparently asking their names. It looked as if she was whispering into their ears and drawing close to them to hear what the shy, beautifully dressed children were saying,
Reham Khan, who was a journalist before the PTI chairman, said she was the mother of a 21-year-old son and Allah Almighty had blessed her with another two in the shape of Salman and Qasim - Imran Khan’s sons from his first marriage with Jemima Khan.
“Everybody wants his or her children to receive good education and have all the facilities, but unfortunately no one cares for the children roaming on roads in search of livelihood,” she added.
“We cannot absolve ourselves of our responsibility by giving some money to the street children while travelling in our luxury cars,” Reham Khan said, urging the members of the society to adopt at least one child to make him or her useful citizens.
Reham Khan said there was no need for conducting surveys to know the exact number of the street children as it was time to protect them from being abused. “We must take the initiative from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for this purpose,” she stressed.
Mehr Taj Roghani appreciated the KP government for declaring street children as state children, saying it was the responsibility of the state to provide facilities to its citizens.
She said a survey was being conducted in Peshawar, Mardan and Abbottabad to collect data about the number of street children. She said millions of children were out of school and many scavenged for food.
On the occasion, a ‘state child’ Subhanullah gave a speech in English. He said: “Today I want to talk about myself and about many others like me. I was born in an underprivileged family. I have six elder sisters and three younger brothers. I am the eldest male child in my family.”
“I started working at the age of five as my father was bedridden due to illness. I worked at the workshop of a car mechanic to continue my education and contribute to the household expenses to some extent,” he recalled.
“At school I saw children who led a carefree life. They had beautiful bags and their parent would pick and drop them in their cars. My classmates would tell me about cartoons they watched after school and the toys they bought,” he continued.
“My class fellows rested after school as they didn’t have to work. They went to parks with their parents. I have no story to share as I go to a shop to work after school,” he added.
Subhanullah said he would humbly ask a few questions. “Why can’t I be like others? Why can’t I have books, the bags and the toys the other children have? Why do I have to work after school? I ask the people around the world to see me and live like my just for one day. I thank the people who have helped me but there are so many of us. I request the society to stop ignoring us,” he pleaded.