Minister of State for Overseas Pakistani Senator Tariq Azeem has taken serious notice of death of a five year old Pakistani boy in hospital in Al-Ain, UAE after falling from camel, during a camel race.
The minister was informed by Pakistan's Mission UAE that five years old Murtaza fell down from a camel during a race and was crushed under the camels. He remained unconscious for few days in the hospital and later died there.
His brother, six years old Kaleem, was also recovered by the Pakistan mission Abu Dhabi and is now in the premises of the mission.
The minister of Overseas Pakistani has also spoken to Pakistan's mission in Abu Dhabi and got the details of the event. The minister was informed that a 70 years old Pakistani Mohammad Hussain who claims to be the father of these children said that his sons were taken to UAE for camel racing without his knowledge. Pakistan's mission informed the minister that according to new laws, it is illegal to engage any one to ride camel who is under the age of 15 year and less than 45-kg weight.
The minister said despite all the rules and regulations, the human smuggling especially of the young children is going on and the smugglers are doing this business in D.G. Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur areas. They smuggle children to UAE offering handsome reward to the parents and are told that the children would be employed for house hold work.
Senator Tariq Azeem was also informed that in the last couple of years, more than 145 young children were deported from UAE and most of these do not have any clue about their families therefore after their return to Pakistan they have been kept in the Edhi Homes.
The minister has also written to all the missions in UAE to enquire about the activities of Pakistani children being used as jockeys in camel races. He said Pakistan will take every possible measure to stop the evil operation of sending young children to UAE for camel racing and take stern action against the human smugglers.