September 18, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 17, 1429

HYDERABAD, Sept 17: Protection Manager of Society for Protection of Rights of the Child Kashif Bajeer and Coordinator of Child Rights Committee Shafiq Kandhro have said that parents who are selling their children in the name of ‘unemployment and poverty’ should be arrested as they have no right to punish or torture their children.

In a joint statement issued here on Wednesday they asked who had given parents the right to sell their children when they did not have right to torture or punish them.

They added that some elements were promoting such heinous trend for their publicity. They said that law-enforcement agencies were continuously arresting minor children for stealing fruits and vegetables. They said that this dangerous trend should be stopped.

They demanded arrest of a couple, Shaharbano and Shakeel, for cheating the society in the name of poverty and hunger. They said that to born in a poor family is not a crime but to sell a minor is a criminal act and if someone is involved in it then it becomes the duty of the government and police to take action against them instead of offering Rs25,000.

They said in recent incidents reported in media some parents went on to sell their children for money the practice needed to be curbed.