Protest staged against rising incidents of child abuse

MANSEHRA: The members of civil society and children on Thursday staged a protest against the rising incidents of child abuse in Hazara Division and rest of the country.

“We want exemplary punishment for the cleric, who had assaulted a seminary student and those who harboured him after this heinous crime,” Mohammad Shoaib, the former president of traders’ union, told the protesters who had gathered outside the Ghazikot Township here.

The protesters were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans in support of their demands. They demanded the arrest of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Mufti Kifayatullah who, according to them, had provided shelter to the suspect before his arrest in the assault case of a seminary student.

The children were also holding placards inscribed with a slogan ‘No mercy for child rapists’. Shoaib said that Wafaqul Madaras should not be blamed for such an inhuman act committed by some black sheep in that noble profession. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf local activist Adil Khan said that government should frame tough laws to award exemplary punishment in cases of child abuse. “We want public hanging of criminals, who assault minors and then kill them to hide their heinous crime,” he added.