18 out of 190 abducted children abused in S Punjab: report

An eye-opening report by the Social Welfare department on human rights violations over a period of six months in South Punjab disclosed on Tuesday reveals that 18 out of 190 children were molested after kidnapping in the region.

“A total of 140 children were abducted during March-August from different underdeveloped districts of the region,” said Social Welfare and Baitul Mal Deputy Director Shoeb Raza while referring to the report during his brief address in a seminar titled ‘Human Rights Violations’ conducted at Sanat Zar.

He further claimed that the violations were increasing ‘tremendously’ with each passing day, which rings alarm bells for the people at the helm of affairs.

Shoeb also lashed at Indian authorities for unleashing government-sponsored brutal torture against the innocent inhabitants of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“The valley is suffering at the hands of Indian military involved in human rights abuse,” he said, adding that such massive human rights violations should be condemned by United Nations and the world leaders so that peace is restored in the valley.

Speaking to the audience he pledged to protect the ‘identity and dignity’ of everybody irrespective of their religion affiliations, caste, or creed.

He vowed to confront every discrimination in the society through all possible means and resources to pave way for an equitable and safe society.

“Let’s us preserve the constitutional rights of every faction of the society, particularly eunuchs and women who are out of their homes to earn bread and butter for their dependents.”

Crisis Centre Manager Hina Gondal, Sanat Zar Manager Abida Rehman and others also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2020.