Describing the incidents of child kidnappings across Punjab as ‘alarming’, ChiefJustice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on Friday ordered the authorities to ensure deployment of security guards on school vans.
During the case hearing, the Secretary Schools informed court that security arrangements are complete at 6000 schools of A+ and A categories across the province.
Meanwhile, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah stated that incidents of child kidnappings are alarming and it is the provincial government’s responsibility to ensure protection of its citizens.
He directed the concerned authorities to deploy security guards on pick & drop vans of the schoolchildren.
The court also directed the Punjab government to submit a detailed report regarding recovery of abducted children in the next hearing on September 20.
Earlier on Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of steering committee on missing children.
He expressed satisfaction over the efforts for the recovery or return of missing children to their homes and said that steps in this regard should be continued in a professional manner.
Shehbaz Sharif directed that Prosecution Department should actively perform its duties for early disposal of cases under hearing in courts and legislation should be made for declaring crime against children a non-bailable offence.
He said that a plan should be evolved for enrolment of beggar children and effective steps taken for welfare and rehabilitation of such children.
The Chief Minister said that beggary is not destiny of children and they should be make useful citizens. He said that an effective strategy be evolved for elimination of beggary after looking into all aspects.
The meeting was informed that 18 children have been returned to their homes or being recovered during last six days.
Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah, Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Jahangir Khanzada MPA, Chief Secretary, Advocate General Punjab, Chairperson Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, Saba Sadiq MPA, Inspector General Police, Secretary Home, senior police officers besides officers concerned were present in the meeting.
