Burney urges Pak, Afghan govts to stop human trafficking |
The Nation (10 March 2006)
The Trust Chairman, Ansar Burney, on Thursday said "the incidents of abduction of women and children and their trafficking from Pakistan to Afghanistan had alarmingly increased and firm reports reflect the involvement of Afghan government officials in this crime". For several years, the Trust has been reporting that children and young girls are being abducted from many parts of Pakistan and taken to Afghanistan. The victims have no hope of rescue or protection even if the truth of their plight is discovered. These victims are then sold to victims in Afghanistan or abroad. The majority of girls trafficked are driven to prostitution or modern day slavery. "I have already raised the issue of abduction and trafficking of children and young girls during my lectures in USA." Burney said. The Trust claims that its missions to Afghanistan have discovered several "women markets", where local and smuggled girls were being sold and bought like animals. On complaints to local authorities by the Trust, no action was taken. Instead the staff sent by the Trust was told to forget what they saw. "Afghanistan is still a country run by warlords and drug barons. The most of the people who run the government are the same criminals involved in drugs, ransom, terrorism, trafficking of innocent human beings and other criminal activities in and around Afghanistan" he maintained. We have written to the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad and to the Afghan government, yet no action has been taken. The Trust has, therefore, requested the governments of Pakistan, USA, Europe and all those countries involved in the development and security of Afghanistan along with the United Nations and International human rights NGO's to take notice of this shocking crime taking place under the patronage of Afghan government and to take firm action against it. Ansar has appealed to the President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to tighten the entry and exit for those Afghans that are involved in such crimes. He also requested the Government of Pakistan to ensure the safe return of Pakistanis kept in private prisons of Afghan warlords. Press Back on your browser to Return
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