An unpardonable offence

The parents of two children with special needs may have pardoned the bus conductors who tortured and abused their children but the stigma of their actions isn’t likely to go away anytime soon. Their transgressions are too grave to be forgotten or forgiven notwithstanding the statement circulated by the parents before a court hearing the torture case on Sunday Oct 16th. The two suspects Akram and Usman behaved in a most reprehensible manner -- physically and verbally abusing the two children, hanging them upside down and slapping them repeatedly. Transporters Akram and Usman were captured on film and their actions were seen by tens of thousands of people on the internet. The magistrate hearing the case rejected the bail plea of the suspects and approved the police’s remand plea before adjourning the case hearing till Monday. It is unlikely that the two suspects did not know about the condition of both children who have severe hearing and speech impairments.

The suspects told the court that they deeply regret their actions which they said were carried out in order to discipline the children. Unfortunately no trace of remorse can be seen in the video clip detailing their torture. Both the men taunted the boys as they thrashed them. Their victims pleaded with them in sign language for the abuse to stop.

The school authorities have suspended the two transporters but much more needs to be done. The school must also bear some of the responsibility for the actions of those tasked with transporting the children. They must ensure that children with special needs are handled more humanely. Drivers and conductors need to be familiar with specific health impairments and care for them accordingly. Every precaution needs to be taken to ensure their safety. The government should use the present case to examine afresh the transportation of children with special needs and safeguard their environment.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2017.

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