Heads hung in shame: PTI leaders call for amendments to child protection laws

They criticised govt’s failure to tackle Kasur incident

LAHORE: Leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf have criticised the government for its failure to provide justice to the victims of the Kasur child porn case following a report published by the Human Rights Commission.

The HRCP had issued a report earlier this week after a fact finding team visited the Husain Khanwala village in Kasur to investigate details of alleged large scale sexual abuse of children. The team reported that it had received credible testimonies of child abuse in the village and that the abuse had remained unreported because the families had been intimidated.

Ejaz Chaudhary, political adviser to PTI chief, questioned claims of good governance by the Punjab chief minister.  He said the matter had embarrassed the entire nation and it was time the CM delivered on his promise to ensure exemplary punishments for the culprits. He criticised the law minister for putting the agitation down to a property dispute.

“After the revelations made in the HRCP report, those making lame excuses should hang their heads in shame.” Chaudhry accused the law minister of defending criminals involved in the scandal. “How is it possible that the police were unaware of the abuse when the videos were circulating in that area?”

Dr Yasmin Rashid said it was the responsibility of the media and the civil society to keep the public’s attention focused on the Kasur incident. “Otherwise the government will just sweep it under the rug.”  She said Shahbaz Sharif tended to form Joint Investigation Teams whenever he wanted to wash his hands of an issue.

PTI leader Andleeb Abbas criticised the negligence of the Punjab Police. She called for amendments to child protection laws to ensure speedy justice to victims.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2015.