News Detail

No child should endure abuse in the name of education. The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, convened today at Parliament House to receive a detailed briefing from federal and provincial authorities of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh on rising incidents of corporal punishment, torture, and sexual abuse in madaris, along with measures undertaken by madrassa managements and concerned departments to address the issue. Chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri emphasized that the foremost responsibility of the State is to protect children, whether enrolled in schools or madaris, and clarified that the objective is not to target legitimate religious institutions but to eliminate abuse and strengthen oversight.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri expressed concern over the absence of effective registration, financial transparency, and access to these institutions. She called for immediate and practical measures, including regular visits to madaris by law enforcement and government officials, mandatory parental-teacher engagement, formulation of SOPs banning corporal punishment, teacher training on child protection and mental health, and strict compliance with financial registration requirements to ensure accountability. She also voiced serious reservations over the extremely low conviction rates in reported cases, stressing that without prosecution and deterrence, the cycle of abuse cannot be broken.

During the meeting, Senator Aimal Wali Khan noted that many madaris have gradually transformed into revenue systems rather than being integrated within the national education framework. He underscored the urgent need for comprehensive legislation, financial transparency, and incorporation of madaris under mainstream education boards to bring accountability and end parallel, unregulated practices. Members further recommended district-level directives, harmonised provincial legislation, and clear regulatory mechanisms to safeguard children and ensure effective oversight.

The Committee also took up the matter pertaining to reported derogatory remarks linked to a Comsats University student’s financial circumstances and late father, the dismissal of complaints by the Head of Department, and alleged retaliatory grading. The Committee was informed that the incident of 19th June arose during a class presentation when a misunderstanding between the student and the instructor escalated. It was reported that the matter was later reconciled, and the instructor himself provided a laptop to the student.

While noting this, the Committee stressed that the incident reflects a deeper concern. Chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri underscored that no student should be embarrassed on account of their financial background, as such actions cause emotional distress and can leave a lasting psychological impact. She emphasized that universities of repute must foster tolerance and compassion, and recommended that teachers be provided with training to handle students with sensitivity. The Chairperson further advised that, alongside disciplinary safeguards, universities and the HEC should ensure that both teachers and students are imparted training in respectful communication, tolerance, and mental health awareness, so that similar incidents do not recur.

The Committee also received a briefing from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior on the situation of Pakistani citizens imprisoned abroad. It was highlighted that ongoing consular interventions, mission-level engagement, and enhanced screening in coordination with the FIA are being undertaken to address the plight of Pakistani nationals. The representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored the challenges of limited prisoner transfer agreements, sovereign restrictions of host states, resource shortages, and gaps in documentation. The Interior Ministry added that repatriation can only proceed with countries where agreements exist, and confirmed that a limited number of priority transfers had recently been executed.

Chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri urged concrete action and accountability beyond assurances. She pressed for country-wise case lists, clear records of interventions, and evidence of measures taken to safeguard Pakistanis facing prolonged detention. She emphasized stronger coordination between the Foreign Office, the Interior Ministry, the FIA, and the Federal Ombudsman, alongside improved consular access, systematic case tracking, and transparent reporting on repatriation efforts. The Chairperson further directed the ministries to develop a coordinated national strategy with time-bound deliverables for legal assistance, consular support, and rehabilitation of returnees, and to present a detailed action plan at the next meeting.

Among those who were present were Senators Poonjo Bheel, Syed Masroor Ahsan, Aimal Wali Khan, Khalil Tahir, Ata ul Haq, and Qurat ul Ain Marri (online), the Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), the Joint Secretaries from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, representatives from Comsats University, and senior officials from concerned departments.