KARACHI, Nov 20: Hundreds of children including those confined to local women jail with their mothers, child labourers, students of slum schools and special kids actively participated in the Universal Children's Day celebrations held at the YMCA ground on Saturday.

Eleven-year-old Ana Murtaza, one of the young jail inmates, addressing the event, organized by Peace and Development (PDA), made a passionate appeal for a sympathetic consideration towards the right to dignified freedom for her, and no less than 55 other children staying with their mothers, undergoing various durations of imprisonment at the Karachi Women Jail.

Appreciative of the facilities provided at the women prison, the child representing her other fellows, 17 of whom were also present on the occasion, said the event had provided her a first- time chance in two long years to come out of the jail boundary.

Ana Murtaza could not explicitly express her desire to lead a normal childhood in a safe and healthy environment with maximum opportunity to visit regular schools and participate in educational and extracurricular activities.

The festival thronged by kids including child labourers from Lyari and Orangi towns was also entertained by amateur bands and singers. Children themselves performed tableaus and skits.

The PDA distributed gifts comprising books, pencil box, biscuits, milk and toys among all children.

Several stalls had been erected by various companies, as well as by special children and their parents, offering a wide range of products right.

Swings, jumping castle and merry-go-rounds were further additions to add to their amusement. They were also amazed to find among them the Sindh Home Minister, Rauf Siddiqui and Sindh Health Advisor, Faisal Malik.

The home minister, who formally announced the culmination of the festival also released pigeons and balloons to mark the occasion. On the occasion, he announced special cash prizes for some of the kids and certificates for all the other participants. - APP