170 children go missing in nine months
24 October, 2012
KARACHI: Madadgaar National Helpline (MNH) has expressed concern over increasing number of cases of missing children in Karachi, as a total of 170 such cases were dealt by it from January to September 2012. Madadgaar Helpline Karachi office dealt 11 cases of missing children in January, 8 in February, 12 in March, 16 in April, 21 in May, 29 in June, 15 in July, 39 in August and 19 in September. The recovery rate of missing children remained significantly low, with only 10 children recovered with Madadgar National Helpline's intervention during last nine months. Helpline data indicates increasing rate of missing children in the month of June and August, due to summer holidays and Eid holidays. During holidays, children's disappearance and kidnapping cases are recorded more than normally occurring. On Eidul Azha, children mostly go away from home to see the sacrifice of animals from where they are either lost or kidnapped. "There is need to verify the children security and protection by parents and there is also need to sensitise the children about security measures at school to minimise the risks," Helpline said. Unfortunately, police do not take any practical steps against missing of children and for their recovery. It shows their lack of interest toward this heinous crime, it said. Zia Ahmed Awan Founder of Madadgaar National Helpline said this huge number of missing children shows the weaknesses of Pakistan's child protection system. He said that missing and kidnapping cases of children go up on special occasions, therefore there was need to take serious steps to protect the children on such occasions. End.
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