RAWALPINDI:
A nine-year-old boy, who was abducted from the katchi abadi (informal settlement) area of Westridge Police jurisdiction in Rawalpindi in July, has been recovered from Chishtian, District Bahawalnagar.
The rescue operation was made possible through a timely intervention, aided by the Zainab Alert App and swift action taken on local residents’ tip-off by the Bahawalnagar district police chief. One suspect involved in the abduction has been arrested.
The boy, who had allegedly been abducted from Rawalpindi’s Westridge area in mid-July, was recovered from Village 47 Fateh, on the outskirts of Bahawalnagar.
According to police sources, the child was recovered within the jurisdiction of Bakhshan Khan Police Station in Chishtian, after local residents alerted authorities. The suspect, identified as Arif, has been taken into custody, and an investigation is underway.
Sources further revealed that the child had been subjected to continuous abuse during captivity. Visible signs of physical torture were observed on his hands, neck, and back.
In a viral video posted on social media, the boy’s mother claimed that the suspect had abducted her son from the informal settlement in Rawalpindi and threatened to bury him alive if he raised his voice during the journey. The suspect had also reportedly forced the child to address him as “father.” After spotting the boy’s details on the Zainab Alert App, concerned locals informed the police.
News published in the Express Tribune on 8th August 2025
