LARKANA: (PR) “Corporal punishment meted out to children at different places in society impacts negatively on their
personality. Its detrimental consequences hamper the smooth growth of children and it results into
depression, mental health, social insecurity and behavioral problems of children. Awareness and strong
legislation to ban the corporal punishment at all places was the need of time”. This was stated by the
speakers at a launching ceremony of Advocate Asiya Abbasi’s book titled “Corporal punishment and its
effects on child’s personality” held here in Knowledge Centre Larkana. It was presided over by the panel
of teachers, parents and social activists.
Explaining her work and its purpose the writer of a book Advocate Asiya Abbasi said that “this book is
actually my research thesis on corporal punishment on children and its consequences but given the
importance and sensitivity of the issue it was brought into a book form so as to provide reading material
to common people for awareness against practice which was harmful for children in many ways”. She
further said that corporal punishment did not mean physical punishment only but it included other kinds
of punishments as well which tormented children and for that matter any other person and it also
inflicted pain upon them both physically as well as mentally. She further said that physical punishment
in school was one of the major causes of drop out because from its fear little children showed
reluctance to go there and this led such children to involve in many negative activities like drug
addiction, beggary and deviant behavior in life or child labour as well. She said that parents and teachers
should restrain from resorting to physical punishment instead adopt alternative ways to discipline
children. Government also besides doing legislation should launch a campaign against corporal
punishment.
Prof. Dr. Ahsan Danish said that in our society majority of children were punished during their learning
and growing age when they needed love instead of thrashing. He said that it was a big question of our
society that “was reward and punishment always given to truly deserving?” Answer shall be divided in
yes and no as well. He appreciating the writer of the book said that Ms Abbasi had done a brave deed
by publishing her research thesis into a book form otherwise many researchers hide their work from the
fear of criticism because of the originality, quality and utility of their work.
Presenting the review of the book Professor Mukhtiar Samo founder of Knowledge Centre said that this
book was a source of awareness against corporal punishment that actually spoiled the child as against
the old maxim that “spare a rod and spoil a child”. He said that the writer of the book had amply
mentioned the provisions of national and international law and conventions for checking practice of
corporal punishment on children at all places. He said that Sindh government had also done good to
pass the Sindh prohibition of corporal punishment bill into Act in 2016 to prohibit corporal punishment
from educational institutions. He also appreciated the Gilgit and Biltistan Assembly for legislating against
total ban on corporal punishment in educational institutions as well as in homes and at work places also.
Prof. Jam Jamali said that the book carries the message “to replace the cutting tools with persuasive
tools” in homes and schools for maintaining control, discipline and order.
Prof. Sikander Abbasi said that this book helps reader to realize the importance of soft treatment for
personality development of a child.
The others who spoke on the occasion included Deedar Ali Abbasi, Badaruddin Abbasi, Advocate Abdul
Rehman Bhutto, Prof. Jahangir Abbasi and Sajjad Masan.