An alarming increase has been recorded in the juvenile delinquencies in the federal capital, in what the experts said was due to socio-economic conditions including poverty and unemployment.
“Poverty, inflation and unemployment are main causes of burgeoning juvenile criminal activities not only in federal capital but all over the country,” said a judicial officer sending a juvenile delinquent at Islamabad District Court. The spokesman of Islamabad Capital Police said that underage crimes were linked with the socio-economic backgrounds of youngsters involving in act of crimes.
He further said there are different forms of juvenile delinquencies and one should try to figure out sources of these offenses committed by children instead of punishing them every time with the hope that they would bring these offenses to an end. Mushtaq Ahmed, a sub-inspector while producing a 16-year boy before the court in theft of National Saving Certificates worth Rs 2.6 million inform that a lot of complaints were being lodged on monthly basis against juvenile delinquencies in the police stations of Islamabad.
Regarding the juvenile delinquent Shahid Mehmood said the accused belonged to a family living below the poverty line. His parents could not afford the expenses of his schooling. Therefore, he was laboring in fruit and vegetable market Islamabad when he came across a group of young dacoits from various hues and nationalities and unluckily joined them. Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Nasir Manzoor produced another teenager Abdul Waheed before the court who was accused of stealing water pump machine.
The police officer said on visiting the house of accused, he felt sorry for the pathetic conditions of his family. His father was clinically dead and his mother used to look after family affairs.
He said there was no one to help them out financially. When the accused was as why he committed that crime, he kept mum and tried to hide his face to show repentance.
A law expert Saeed Khurshid Ahmed urged the authorities concerned to implement Juvenile Justice System Ordinance 2000 to provide protection of the rights of children involved in criminal litigation.
