Sindh CM announces to establish child protection units

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday announced to establish Child Protection Units and All Women Police Stations to deal with child abuse cases.

He took this decision while presiding over a meeting of Child Protection Committee (CPU) here at the Chief Minister House. The meeting was attended by the Provincial Ministers Sohail Anwar Siyal and Zia-ul-Hassan, Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Sindh Inspector General Police (IGP) AD Khowaja, Justice (Retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sohail Rajput, Secretary Education Iqbal Durrani, Advocate Zia Awan,social activist and singer Shahzad Roy and others.

The chief minister said that children are the hope, future and the beauty of our society and therefore we have to protect them from the abuse and so they can be nurtured them self-respect, dignity, and care.

He directed the Child Protection Authority (CPA) to convene its regular meetings and also involve some experts on child abuse. He further directed the authorities concerned to come up with workable recommendations for establishing child protection units where children and their parents or guardian so they can seek protection without delay and difficulties. “I want to receive these recommendations within a week,” he directed.

A proposal of establishing Child Protection Units (CPU) at every police station was discussed in the meeting but the chief minister said that the police stations have a different perception. “Mostly, people avoid to go there, therefore soft and friendly units should be established where children and their parents are not hesitant to approach the authorities,” he said. “I am of the view that women police stations may be the appropriate places where such kind of cases could be dealt,” he maintained.

The IGP proposed that a separate desk for child protection could also be established at the Police Facilitation Centres.

The social welfare department proposed to establish a separate police force comprising senior lady police officers with other properly trained policemen to deal with such cases.

The chief minister said that concrete measures for the protection of children must be taken. “The child protection units should be seen operating and giving results,” he said. The CM also assured to release special funds needed for establishing these units.

The proposal to establish CPU at women police stations was approved but its implementation is to be made after CPA comes up with other proposals within a week.