PESHAWAR, July 5: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) has expressed concern over illegal detention of 15 children and women belonging to the family of an alleged criminal, under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulations and has urged the governor to order their release. “Children as young as 2 years have been convicted and are under detention, which is regrettable,” it said, in a letter addressed to NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman here on Tuesday.

The women and children have been convicted by name. Hukam Jana, wife of Qadir Khan, is under detention with her six children. Mohammad Siddique, 9; Khalil Mohammad, 3; Razmeena, 2; Wazir Azam, 6; and Islam Bibi, 7; have been arrested for three years. One-year-old Khair Mohammad was also with his mother.

Khair Bibi, wife of Arsal Khan, is also under detention with her five children. Wasil Khan, 10; Commissioner Khan, 6; Shawal Bibi, 5; and Eman Bibi, 7, had been convicted. An infant, Amrozia, was also with her mother.

Tika Bibi, wife of Laees Khan, was also under detention with infant baby, Momina.

Their mother-in-law Sanamullah Bibi, 70, is also in detention in the Central Jail Bannu.

The detention of those women and children was against all national and international laws, the letter said. It expressed concern over the act of the administration and urged the governor to order their release.