Saturday, September 03, 2011

Negative trend of buying toy arms emerges on Eid

By Asad Farooq

KARACHI: On the vivid occasion of Eid, children were seen with toy guns and pistols in their hands at apartments, streets and roadsides of the city, reflecting a negative trend.

A large number of children spent their Eidi and pocket money on purchasing toy arms on the happy eve of Eid. These toy arms were easily available at stalls, shops and markets across the city. It is pertinent to mention here that that trend was on the rise when the city was being targeted by terrorists since over a decade. During this period, majority of innocent lives were claimed by ethnic based violence and gang wars. A plastic toy arm was available at the market at Rs 30 to Rs250 as per size and quality. The bulk market of such toys is Bolton Market. These toys were imported from China.

Aamir, a shopkeeper, at Pakistan Chowk area, told Daily Times that he was selling toy arms owing to high demand by children. “A large number of children came to me and asked for toy guns so I brought these toys for them,” he said. Ali, a child, told this scribe that he preferred to purchase a toy gun to other toys like car and bat. “All my friends had also purchase toy guns,” he added.

A civil society representative and Joint Action Committee (JAC) convener Mir Zulfiqar Ali said that it was a negative trend. He said that the society should take it serious and make joint efforts to end that trend. He further said that the JAC would launch a drive against toy arms. He concluded that business community should be engaged and sensitized to oust that trend from the society.

Registrar of Board of Secondary Education Karachi (Private Schools) Rafia Mallah while talking to Daily Times said that children were being brought to wrong way through toy arms so as to turn them violent. She held Internet, media, movies and environment responsible for toy guns trend among children. She further said that unfortunately the society had a deficiency of heroes so their children were adopting styles of film heroes having guns in hands. It is pertinent to mention here that Interior Minister Rehman Malik gave Rs 25,000 to a child when he broke his toy gun on his plea in the city.

 

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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