A few days ago, actor and director Angeline Malik started a film campaign to raise awareness against child abuse. The press conference was held on Friday, January 10 at Press Club, Karachi and many Pakistani celebrities lent their voices to the cause.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7UjKFnhvbE/
Pakistani actors such as Zeba Bakhtiar, Samina Ahmed and Bushra Ansari attended the press conference and shared their thoughts on the current laws related to children’s rights. They also talked about the importance of raising awareness. The government, too is making an effort to combat the issue through the Zainab Alert Bill.
Bushra Ansari Shares Her Opinions
Sharing her sentiments, Bushra Ansari highlighted the rising concerns regarding child abuse in our Madrassas and schools.
“There is a different kind of environment in our Madrassas. They are our religious educational centers, therefore people behave in a certain mannerism there. Which is why these places remain quiet and peaceful. Maulvis (Religious clerics) take advantage of this quietness and abuse our children. Not only that, even school teachers are beating around children.”
The actress also urged the government to install cameras in such institutions to prevent harassment against children.
“Cameras should be installed in these places. Every room should be equipped with surveillance cameras in order to prevent the incidents of child abuse and harassment.”
A Brutal Punishment For A Heinous Crime
Bushra Ansari also demanded brutal punishment for perpetrators of child abuse and said they should be subjected to the same pain and torture that they inflicted upon the children.
“Death penalty is not enough for the offenders of child abuse. They should not be granted an easy death which inflicts pain only for a short moment. Perpetrators of such heinous crimes should be subjected to horrifying, brutal death. They should experience the same pain, torture and injuries that they inflicted upon their victims. That is how others won’t dare doing such inhumane acts in the future.”
She further talked about the issue of growing population and was of the view that child abuse and other social issues are interlinked with our population growth. Bushra also criticized the parents for not paying attention to their children and feigning ignorance.
“Population should be controlled. If a family has 12 or 14 children, how are they going to keep an eye on each and every child. They shy away from their responsibilities and send their kids to Madrassas. They think they will be fed and educated and will lead them to heaven. However, the parents themselves need religious education.”
Here’s the full video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2JtzVqgVp0
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Other Celebrity Reactions to the Cause
In response to the campaign, #meriawaazsuno, #mujhayjeenaydo and #inkaarkaro are circulating all over social media. Pakistani celebritites who did not attend the press conference extended their support by recording video messages. These celebrities include Ushna Shah, Ahmed Ali Butt, Hina Bayat, Saman Ansari, Alyy Khan, Sarwat Gillani, Ali Gul Pir, Nida Yasir, Yumna Zaidi and many more.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6-qaJ9DoLC/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ArBo0hGPA/
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