Pakistan’s Senate committee on human rights tackled shocking reports of child abuse at religious seminaries this week, urging quick steps to protect kids from harm. The group zeroed in on cases of corporal punishment, torture, and sexual abuse happening in madrasas across Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to local media like Dawn.
During a meeting at Parliament House, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, who chaired the session, stressed that Pakistani officials must step up to shield children. “No child should endure abuse just for the sake of education,” she said, voicing deep worries about madrasas lacking proper registration, financial openness, and oversight.
Zehri pushed for tough actions to fight madrasa child abuse in Pakistan. These include routine inspections of seminaries, required meetings between parents and teachers, training for educators on child safety, and a full ban on corporal punishment. She also flagged low conviction rates in abuse cases, warning that without real prosecutions and deterrents, the problem will keep growing.
Senator Aimal Wali Khan pointed out how many madrasas now act more like money-making businesses than true parts of Pakistan’s education system. He called for new laws to boost transparency and link these schools to national education boards.
Other committee members suggested setting up local monitoring in districts and creating uniform laws across provinces to stop child exploitation in schools and seminaries.
The panel also looked into a troubling incident at COMSATS University in Islamabad. In June, a student faced mean comments from a teacher about his family’s money struggles and his late father during a class talk. Things eventually smoothed over—the teacher even gave the student a laptop as a gesture. Still, Zehri said such bullying reveals bigger issues in Pakistan’s education scene. She insisted universities should build a culture of kindness and respect, adding calls for training in communication, tolerance, and mental health for both teachers and students to prevent emotional harm from financial bullying.
On top of that, the meeting addressed the struggles of Pakistanis locked up overseas. Zehri demanded better tracking, including data by country and clear reports on cases. She pressed ministries to craft a national plan with deadlines for legal help, consular aid, and support to rehab those who come home.
These discussions highlight Pakistan’s push for child protection reforms and human rights improvements amid ongoing challenges in education and abroad.
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