Curbing harmful trends: Children take to the streets against toy guns

Poets, intellectuals stress adverse impact of weapons.

THANA: A group of children participated in an anti-toy weapons rally in Thana area in Malakand.

The protest was aimed to build awareness among the public about the adverse impact of toy guns on a child’s psyche. Participants of the rally marched through the streets and carried placards inscribed with anti-toy gun slogans. A large number of poets, intellectuals and elders of the area also participated on the occasion.

Speaking on the rally, Amjad Shehzad, a poet and singer said toy weapons have had a deleterious impact on children.

“The negative effect of toy guns is felt strongly in this region,” he said. “This is primarily because the region is prone to extremism and a frightening wave of militancy.”

Shehzad added there is a pressing need to take quick and concrete steps to curb the sale of toy guns.

Nangyal Yousafzai, another poet, told participants it was a matter of concern that shopkeepers who sell toy guns have not given up on their businesses.

“Children take [an] interest in toy guns,” Nangyal said. “Toy guns direct children towards violence.”

Participants at the rally unanimously pressed the government to immediately put a ban on the sale and purchase of toy guns across the country.

They said it was a serious issue and efforts should be made to curb their sale.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2016.