A week-long search for a one-year-old boy abducted from Karachi has raised concerns over the police’s handling of the investigation. The boy, Hussain, was snatched from his cousin, Rabia, while playing outside their house in Qayyumabad B Area on November 20, 2023.According to despite a police complaint filed by the boy’s father, Mohammad Rashid, and the existence of eyewitness accounts, the police have yet to make any significant progress in recovering the child.
Rashid claims that he has been visiting the Defense Police Station daily, but the authorities have been unable to provide any concrete updates or assurance of his son’s safety.
The family’s frustration has been compounded by the apparent lack of coordination between different police departments. While the abduction investigation is typically transferred to the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC), the Defense Police Station’s investigation department has retained control of Hussain’s case.
This unusual arrangement has raised questions about the prioritization of the investigation.Hussain’s grandmother, Kulsoom, has appealed to the Chief Minister, Governor, IG Sindh, and other high authorities to intervene and expedite the recovery of her grandson. She and her family had relocated to Karachi from their native Bahawalpur due to financial hardship, and Hussain’s abduction has further deepened their distress.
The lack of progress in Hussain’s case has cast a shadow over the police’s effectiveness in addressing child abduction cases, a serious concern for the safety of children in Karachi. The authorities must prioritize the investigation and take all necessary measures to ensure Hussain’s safe return to his family.
