PHC seeks report on child rehabilitation

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday sought a detailed report from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provincial government regarding rehabilitation facilities for children suffering from drug addiction and directed it to inform the court about the number of such centers and the facilities available in them.

The directive was issued during the hearing of a petition concerning the admission of 10-year-old Musa, who is addicted to drugs, into a proper rehabilitation center.

Chief Justice took strong notice of the matter and remarked that drug-addicted children should not be handed over to parents from centers like Zamong Kor. "Why do you release children addicted to drugs back to their parents?" the Chief Justice questioned. He observed that even street children have contractors in the area, and people from Punjab come to Peshawar to exploit children for begging.

The Chief Justice emphasized that children undergoing rehabilitation should not be released until their treatment is fully completed.

When the hearing of the writ petition began, Zamong Kor focal person Umar and Additional Advocate General Nomanul Haq Kakakhel appeared before the court.

The focal person informed the court that Musa was previously undergoing treatment at Zamong Kor to overcome his drug addiction. However, his mother took him away during Eid, after which he relapsed into addiction.

The Chief Justice again questioned the policy of handing over such vulnerable children to parents. The focal person replied that parents often come with court orders, leaving the organization with no choice but to release the children.