Sun Sep 21 11:43:22 UTC 2025: Here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

A Pakistan Parliamentary panel has urged for stricter measures to protect children from abuse in religious seminaries and schools across the country. The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights reviewed alarming reports of corporal punishment, torture, and sexual abuse. Concerns were raised about a lack of oversight, transparency, and low conviction rates in reported cases. The panel emphasized the state’s responsibility to protect children and called for reforms, including regular inspections, parent-teacher engagement, teacher training, and integration of seminaries into the national education framework.

**News Article:**

**Pakistani Senators Demand Action to Protect Children from Seminary Abuse**

**Islamabad, Pakistan – September 21, 2025** – A Pakistani parliamentary committee is demanding swift and decisive action to protect children attending religious seminaries and schools from widespread abuse. The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, expressed grave concerns over reports of corporal punishment, torture, and sexual abuse occurring within these institutions across Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

During a meeting held on Thursday, September 18th, committee members reviewed disturbing evidence and heard briefings from federal and provincial officials regarding the issue. Senator Zehri stressed the paramount responsibility of the state to safeguard children, emphasizing that the goal was not to undermine legitimate religious education but to eliminate abuse through enhanced oversight and accountability.

Key concerns raised included the lack of proper registration, financial transparency, and monitoring of seminaries. The committee proposed a series of reforms, including:

* Regular and unannounced inspections of seminaries
* Mandatory parent-teacher engagement
* Comprehensive teacher training on child protection
* A strict ban on all forms of corporal punishment

Senator Aimal Wali Khan highlighted the increasing trend of seminaries operating as revenue-generating entities outside the national education system and advocated for legislation to ensure transparency and integration with mainstream education boards. The committee also expressed alarm over the alarmingly low conviction rates in reported abuse cases, warning that a lack of prosecution would perpetuate the cycle of abuse.

With over 35,000 religious seminaries in Pakistan educating tens of thousands of students, the committee’s call for urgent reform underscores the growing recognition of the need to prioritize child protection within these institutions. The Hindu

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