CHITRAL: A Child Protection Unit (CPU) was again opened in Chitral by retired Justice Irshad Qaiser on Monday, said a press release issued by the Lower Chitral police.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Qaiser said it will function as a referral unit for the protection of children’s rights in Chitral. Similar units are also being established in all districts across the province.
He said the establishment of these units would help strengthen the working of the Child Protection Bureau to ensure that the rights of children were not violated.
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Khan and District Police Officer Ikramullah Khan welcomed the setting up of the child protection unit and said they would extend full support to it for protection of children’s rights.
It may be noted that all 12 Child Protection Units had been closed in KP about four years back. Rights activists had expressed their reservations about the closure of CPU in Chitral which had been playing its role in curbing violence against children in this remote district since its inception in 2014 under the KP Child Protection and Welfare Act 2010.
As an organ of the department of social welfare, women empowerment and human rights, the CPU emerged as a saviour of the children in distress in the district and had also enlisted the support of the society by organising child protection committees (CPCs) in all major villages here.