PESHAWAR: An inquiry by the social welfare department hasn’t found any evidence of sexual and physical abuse of children at the Darul Atfal, a centre for destitute children, in Peshawar.

On the floor of the provincial assembly a few days ago, woman MPA of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Madiha Nisar had accused the centre’s woman administrator of exploiting children at the orphanage and alleged that the centre had become a ‘child abuse’ centre.

Following her allegations, Fazal Shakoor from the Panel of Chairmen, who chaired the sitting, had ordered the constitution of a special committee to probe the matter and produce the report within a week.

Interestingly, a committee of the social welfare department visited the centre prior to the formation of the assembly’s special committee. The assembly secretariat has yet to notify the panel to probe allegations.

MPA insists she’ll prove children’s exploitation at centre

Official documents show that the organisation, which runs the centre, has been working in the field of philanthropic activities since 1956. Initially, the activities were covered under the umbrella of the All Pakistan Women Association (APWA). The activity was later diverted from Darul Aman to Darul Atfal in 1969 and was formally registered with the social welfare department under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agency Ordinance, 1961, in 2010.

Sources said the social welfare department had formed a three-member committee to inspect the centre and probe allegations against its woman administrator.

An official document shows that on the verbal order of the additional secretary (social welfare), the committee visited the orphanage, which had 29 boys and 20 girls.

The committee visited the centre but didn’t find evidence of harassment of orphanage residents,physical assault of orphan children, especially girls, and sale of donation items on the market.

“No such evidence is found which supports the allegations,” said the report.

The official document stated: “The children expressed their interest in living in the orphanage and they showed satisfaction.”

The report said the committee members had interacted with all children in the centre, who informed them that the management was very friendly towards them and provided them with all facilities free of charge.

“The management provides care to two children since infancy who were left on the doorstep of the centre by unknown person. Now, they are grown-up children with 20 plus years of age,” said the report.

According to it, the main donor of the orphanage has mentioned her name in the parentage of these two children and helped them out in obtaining CNIC.

The report said the management had presently deputed a total of 16 paid employees and that the centre had all basic facilities, including dining hall, stores, study rooms, kitchen, washrooms and recreational rooms.

The committee, however, suggested that the management of the centre improve record keeping system, hire trained staff, increase the number of employees, and arrange counselling classes for children.

When contacted, MPA Madiha Nisar said she had evidence of the children’s exploitation at the centre.

“Let the speaker notify the committee and I have evidence to prove my allegations,” she said, adding that the committee had not been notified.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2021