By S. Intikhab Ali

Karachi: Representatives from the Child Rights Movement (CRM) and The Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE) have started signatory campaign through a petition to stop the destruction of girls schools in SWAT & FATA area, spokeswoman of the campaign said on Friday. She said that to stop the genocide of educational institution in SWAT and FATA they have  collected 3000 signatures. To date 189 girls schools in Swat have been destroyed as confirmed by the DCO Swat on Tuesday evening January 21. Over 100,000 girls are affected in Swat alone. Boys schools are now also a target of the anarchist groups. Other districts are also very fearful of possible spread of this unbridled violence against humanity and children. Over 400,000 people are displaced and the numbers continue to rise as families make decisions for survival. Migration is the order of the day from FATA & NWFP, she said. She said that the government must urgently plan on how the needs of the displaced will be addressed. There are many urgent questions that need to be responded including the loss of the academic year of the children, How will the displaced who are vulnerable without alternative support mechanisms be provided linkage with various income, family, health and education support programs of the government? She apprised that the CRM and PCE as coalitions have mobilized people from all walks of society and age groups including children in schools & teachers to sign the petition day after day and present to the leadership of the country each week to demonstrate, that it matters to them what is happening to fellow citizens, to the students and teachers. Each Friday the signatures collected for the week will be submitted to the President, Prime Minister and the Chief of Army Staff for their urgent attention and the Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairman Senate for necessary action to Stop the Genocide of citizens and education in Pakistan. She invited all the citizens across the country to visit the following link http://www.itacec.org/petition_swat.htm for the online petition, down loadable forms and articles on the issue.