ISLAMABAD: While condemning the atrocities committed by Israel, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday called upon the world powers to help end the brutal killing of innocent people, especially children. “We are witnessing the children holocaust in Gaza that must have to be stopped immediately,” he said while addressing an event in connection with the Universal Children’s Day in Islamabad.
The remarks of the prime minister came as Israel “expanded” its military operation in Gaza on Monday. The Palestinian health authority said the death toll from Israel’s aerial bombardment and ground operations in Gaza has reached 13,000, thousands of them children.
PM Kakar maintained that the Israeli armed forces had become “pigmies” in the eyes of the people around the world who were killing defenceless people and children, instead of fighting with a professional army.
He said this had become an issue of all mankind that went beyond any religion, adding that the world is condemning Israel’s atrocities over the defenceless people of Gaza and the West Bank.
“We are doing our utmost endeavours to cease violence in Gaza at the platform of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),” the PM added.
Later, interacting with the differently-abled children, the prime minister said he was amazed by their intellect, perseverance, and desire to positively contribute to the social sphere. “Their spirit for proving their talents against all odds is simply impressive.”
The prime minister said that the government was determined to ensure inclusive development, education, healthcare, participation, dignity and security for all children, as envisaged in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, adding that the children were the most precious asset of any nation and the sole guarantee for its future prosperity.
The premier said that the government remained devoted to the well-being and safety of the children, stressing that the government, non-governmental organisations and society as a whole to contribute towards the noble cause of safeguarding the children’s rights and making their future safe and prosperous.
Universal Children’s Day is being celebrated under the theme “For every child, every right” to reaffirm the commitment to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of children.
The prime minister on the occasion launched the ZARRA Alert App which is a mobile application that can be used to report missing and abducted children.
Appreciating the endeavours of the National Commission on the Rights for Children (NCRC) and the Ministry of Human Rights for launching the ZARRA Alert App, he highlighted it was the collective effort of all stakeholders involved.
Caretaker Minister for Human Rights, Khalil George on the occasion said that it was the state’s responsibility to protect the children’s rights and to promote them to become respectable citizens in future who would play vital role in the development and prosperity of the country.
He said that the app was connected with all the police stations and would be helpful in recovering the missing and abducted children.
National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq said that the government was making every effort to protect the rights of every child in the country. –Agencies
