A six-member constitutional bench led by Justice Aminud Din Khan of the Supreme Court is set to hear a high-profile petition on Thursday as child rights advocate Zia Ahmed Awan sought urgent need for comprehensive action against child trafficking, kidnapping, and the plight of street children in the country.
President Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) Karachi and Advocate Supreme Court Zia Ahmad Awan – a renowned advocate for child rights protection, has named 37 respondents in the petition, which includes federal and provincial government departments, law enforcement agencies, and key bodies like the Ministry of Interior, the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), the Ministry of Human Rights, and the police forces across Pakistan’s provinces.
The petition raises critical concerns over the lack of coordinated efforts to track, rehabilitate, and protect vulnerable children from trafficking, abduction, and exploitation. Awan is requesting the court to direct the respondents to submit detailed strategies, budgets, and plans related to the protection of missing, trafficked, and kidnapped children. Additionally, he is seeking transparency on the funding streams, including foreign assistance, from organizations like the UN and international donors. One of the key prayers in the petition is to direct the authorities to implement a national child tracking system to register and monitor the whereabouts of missing children, which Supreme Court Advocate Awan terms as crucial for successful reunification efforts. The petitioner also calls for the establishment of shelter homes in every division of Pakistan, including the Federal Capital, with a focus on providing separate facilities for boys and girls.
Advocate Awan has specifically urged the top court to direct the respondents to submit their international commitments, particularly with respect to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and related protocols. He pointed out the failure to comply with these international standards and implement national frameworks for child protection is putting Pakistan’s children at risk.
Furthermore, the he urged the federal and provincial governments should submit detailed reports about the funds allocated for child protection efforts and how much is being spent on political purposes rather than child welfare. Awan also calls for a concerted national strategy to address child trafficking, kidnapping, and exploitation, including the creation of stronger provincial action plans and improved inter-agency coordination.
Advocate Awan expressed hearing on Thursday could set the stage for groundbreaking legal reforms that would require the federal and provincial governments to prioritize child welfare, strengthen interdepartmental cooperation, and ensure transparency in their efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
