Bhubaneswar, Dec 20 (IANS): Expressing solidarity with the families of those killed in the Pakistan school attack, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday said issues related to children's welfare have to be taken up on a priority, ignoring political differences.

"The issues related to children's rights cut across considerations of political systems and geography. The entire world is grief stricken over the recent horrific incident at a Peshawar school," said the chief minister.

"The people of India are strongly behind the bereaved souls in Pakistan," Patnaik said at a sensitisation programme for lawmakers on child rights here.

He said: "Children belong to none, but humanity. We have to take issues related to children's welfare most zealously, ignoring our political differences and other partisan considerations."

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants Tuesday attacked an army-run school in Peshawar, killing 148 people, including 132 children.