Child labor, trafficking major problem in Pakistan: Justice Mansoor

Islamabad: The senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Saturday said that child labor and child trafficking are a big problem in Pakistan.

Addressing a ceremony related to child justice in Islamabad, Justice Mansoor stated that child justice is very important. Children are our present and future, and they have to move forward for a better future. ‘I want to tell the judges how important justice is for children’.

He added: “We never consult children and take any decision on our own. Please listen to our children, meet our children, listen to their words, and obey them. Children are not the people of tomorrow but the people of today, they cannot be treated like ordinary people”.

He further said that it is not difficult to establish a child court, but we should work on it. The test of judges is how they treat children. International laws have been made regarding the protection of children. There are issues regarding the health of children in our country, we also have to work regarding the education of children.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah also stated that although he was not on the constitutional bench, but would listen to them. The judiciary is aware of the rights of children. Children are a gift from Allah. ‘I want to tell the judges of the subordinate judiciary how important justice is for children. We have to take special care of children; child marriage is also a big problem in Pakistan’.

He continued to say that child labor and child trafficking are also a big problem in Pakistan. Public interest litigation has brought a lot of improvement. The judiciary should also include children in the decision-making process and protect the rights of children. If a parrot is stolen, the child is jailed, do not make children go through the judicial system, lest it take 15 to 20 years for a child to go through the case.

Justice Mansoor said that when a child appears in courts, he is not given a chance to speak. They listen to the parents of the children in cases. ‘I want to tell the judges of the subordinate judiciary that from now on if a child appears in court, listen to him. Education, health, and justice are the rights of children’.

The judge further said that there is a need to establish children's courts in the country, that cases related to children should be decided quickly in children's courts, it remains to be seen what our justice system is doing for children, that children also have the right to freedom of opinion, that children should be more important to us than we are.