Prominent political leaders, human rights activists and social leaders have demanded of the government to abolish bonded labour, child-beggary and child labour and review all the controversial laws dealing with the human rights. They were addressing a seminar on ‘Abolition of bonded labour, child-beggary and child labour in Pakistan’ organised by Peace and Human Rights Trust (PHRT) at a local hotel. The speakers said that the Child Employment Act, 1991, that allowed the children to work for a few hours, must be withdrawn and new healthy laws rejecting all sorts of child labour should be promulgated. The seminar, presided over by Muhammad Mukhtar Rana, former member of National Assembly and PHRT Chairman, was addressed by Fatehyab Ali Khan, Taj Haider, Sajjad Mir and others. The speakers said that all the controversial labour laws must be withdrawn and fresh laws should be formulated in order to protect the rights of children, women and workers. They said that the government must pay attention to the serious social and economic problems of the citizens instead of exploiting issues for political interests. Some of the speakers accused the government of getting the LFO approved instead of listening to the point of view of genuine political leaders of the country. The speakers also expressed concern over the problems of unemployment, price hike, poverty and ignorance, saying the government had failed to make healthy plans for addressing these problems. The speakers suggested that the funds of ‘Baitul Maal’ and ‘Zakat’ be spent on education and rehabilitation of needy children and their families.[Source: Karachi News] ___