KP Meclisi'nden Çocuk İstismarı Vakalarına Tepki Kararı

KP Assembly expresses concern over child abuse incidents

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday expressed concern over the incidents of sexual abuse, violence, abduction and murder of minor children in different parts of the country. The issue was raised through a unanimously passed joint resolution in a session chaired by MPA Anwar Khan from the panel of chairman. The resolution was moved by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmaker Syed Qasim Ali Shah and signed by female MPAs Sobia Shahid, Khadeeja Bibi, Naheed Noor, Shazia Tehmas, Mehar Sultana and several other MPAs. “In recent times, cases have been reported of sexual abuse, violence and, in some instances, murder after rape of children aged 2, 3, 4, 7, 10 and up to 15 years,” reads the resolution. Demands effective legislation, strict enforcement of law While moving the resolution, MPA Syed Qasim Ali Shah said the situation demanded that instead of mere expressions of regret, effective legislation and strict enforcement of the law must be ensured. “This house demands of the government that laws related to sexual crimes against children be made more effective, the police investigative system be improved, including special investigation units and that forensic and DNA facilities be enhanced,” he said. The lawmaker said transparent and prompt investigation, effective prosecution and speedy judicial proceedings in such cases should be ensured. He also urged the government to abolish the option of terminating cases through compromise or settlement between parties in such heinous crimes. “The state should act as the legal guardian of the affected children and pursue the case effectively. Legal, psychological and social support should be provided to the affected children and their families,” he said. The lawmaker said the law of punishment must be implemented without discrimination and effectively because the lack of timely and certain punishment for offenders created the risk of a further increase in such crimes. The women lawmakers wore black armbands as a protest against such a heinous crime in Haripur where a child went missing before she was found dead. On a point of order, MPA Ubaid Rehman drew the house’s attention towards the harassment of Pakistanis, especially Pakhtuns, in the United Arab Emirates without justification. He said that Pakistanis had spent 30-40 years in the UAE and established their businesses, while the UAE government has been abolishing their visas and businesses on different pretext. The lawmaker demanded of the federal government to take up the issue with the UAE government in the “larger interest of the overseas”, who annually send billions of dollars remittances. Earlier, during the question session, MPA Sajadullah demanded of the chair to order an inquiry into the wrong information shared with the assembly by the higher education department in response to his question. He said that the HED, in its reply, had informed the house that administrative and academic activities in the sole Pattan Degree College, Lower Kohistan, were satisfactory, terming it a false statement. The lawmaker said that students of the areas were taking admission in the colleges in the adjacent districts as the Pattan Degree College was non-functional due to unavailability of teachers. Responding to the query of the mover, law minister Aftab Alam Khan said that there were 19 sanctioned posts in the college out of which only eight had been filled, while the remaining posts were vacant. He said unfortunately, teachers were reluctant to perform their duties in far off areas. The minister said that the government had planned to appoint college-based teachers in such areas where locals would be appointed and would not be transferred from the respective colleges. Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2026