BAHAWALPUR - The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980 has not yet been signed by Pakistan despite the fact that more than 80 countries have ratified this convention. Hague convention is an international instrument which refers to the illegal and wrongful removal of a child from one country to another. Since Pakistan is not a member of the convention, therefore the child abducted from Pakistan to another country and child abducted to Pakistan from other countries cannot safely be returned to a state where he is habitually resident.
As reported more than one million Pakistani are settled in UK. Child abduction issue is a global issue due to intermarriage abroad and child abduction issue cannot be handled without a legal instruments. Domestic legislation regarding custody cases does not address the issue of child abduction from abroad. Therefore this legal instrument is needed to be signed and ratify by the parliament and other relevant authorities.
One day seminar on Hague convention was organized by SACH Struggle for Change In collaboration with the British High Commission Islamabad. In which members of District Bar associations Multan, Muzaffergarh, Bahawalpur, local NGOs, Media, parliamentarians and members of District judiciary participated. It was for the first time that HAGUE convention advocacy campaign was launched in Multan.
Ms Sheena Lavery, Head of counsellor Section, addressed the participants and highlighted certain aspects of commonalties regarding the issue, she further shared that the child abduction cases have been increased due to intermarriages and emphasized that the said convention has to be ratified.
Ms. Khalida Salimi, Executive Director SACH, welcomed the participants and introduced the organizational work regarding international treaties. She urged the government to ratify the said convention.
Mr Majid Basheer emphasized the training of the judges and awareness of this convention to the lawyers and the general public and he has also given a over view of the convention.
Mohammad Jamil (DSP/Legal in Bahawalpur) also shared his views .Mr. Faizulhassan (EX session judge Bahawalpur) addressed and highlighted few cases, Mr. naveed Khalil (advocate AAG Punjab) had a great discussion with participants.mr Ansari(advocate) has also shared his views, All the speakers and participants strongly recommended the ratification of the this HAGUE convention.