Imran Khan still chasing talks with Pak Army

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS)

Chennai-based lawyer and activist Lalitha Natarajan has won US Department of Labor's 2023 Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labour.

Natarajan was presented the award by Consul General Judith Ravin at a ceremony in the US Consulate General in Chennai on May 30.

As a leader in the fight to end exploitative child labor in southern India, Natarajan identifies child victims of trafficking, specifically bonded labor, assisting in their reintegration into society, the US consulate in Chennai said in a statement. In her role as a member of the Child Welfare Committee (North Zone), under the Department of Social Defence, Tamil Nadu, Natarajan ensures victims receive compensation under the Child Labor Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act .

Besides working on child labour issues, Lalitha also provides legal and counseling support to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. "This award will further motivate me to work for the cause of children. As a member of the

Child Welfare Committee, I work closely with various State and Central government departments, judiciary, and police to ensure child rights offenders are convicted," Natarajan said at the awards ceremony in Chennai.

"I especially want to recognise the child survivors of trafficking and bonded labor that I have fought for over many years and wish them peace," she added.

"Her courageous efforts have contributed to obtaining social justice for India's young people and most vulnerable populations. For over two decades, she has rescued children from forced labor in various industrial sectors across the state of Tamil Nadu, ranging from stone quarries to food processing factories to handloom mills," Consul General Ravin said.

Islamabad, June 13 (IANS) Former

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran

Khan has ruled out talks with the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling it an exercise in futility, but appeared to be keen on initiating a dialogue with the military establishmentthe 'real decision makers', a media report said.

The PTI chairman said that he did not believe in "vengeance and will strive for the rule of law" if he came to power again.

Khan said that politicians, including the incumbent rulers, were "powerless and they have no authority to conclude the dialogues". The establishment is the "real decision maker and power is concentrated" within the military, he was quoted as saying by Dawn.

Khan made the remarks in response to a question whether he was ready to hold talks with politicians on the charter of economy.

Khan accused former Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa of "backstabbing" and said that he (Khan) could have sacked Bajwa on at least three different occasions, but he exercised restraint. The PTI chief dispelled the impression of being under pressure and said that he was more concerned for the economy, the media outlet reported.

Expressing apprehensions about his military trial in connection with the May 9 violence, he said that the authorities were turning "approvers to charge him" under the Army Act. He termed trials of civilians in military courts as the end of democracy and justice. He said that the incumbent government was responsible for the poor economy and the only solution for this problem was to explore venues of income generation, mega reforms, and taking drastic measures.