A 14-year-old boy who went missing from the Aabpara area about two-and-a-half years ago was traced to Karachi and reunited with his family, Islamabad police said on Tuesday.  According to Aabpara SHO Zulfiqar Ali, the boy, identified as Awais, had gone missing in 2024 when he was around 13 or 14 years old and worked washing cars in Aabpara Market.  The SHO said the boy’s mother had initially approached the police after he went missing, but despite investigations, he could not be traced. 

“About 10 days ago, the woman returned to the police station with her son’s relatives and informed us that he had remained missing since 2024,” he said.  The police subsequently launched a fresh investigation, retracing the boy’s movements from the point where he had left his home and using technical resources to establish his whereabouts.  SHO Zulfiqar said the efforts, carried out under the supervision and with the “special efforts” of SP Dr Ayaz, led investigators to trace Awais to Karachi.

The police contacted him and arranged for his return to Islamabad.  The boy was handed over to his parents at a ceremony attended by the SP and police officials.  In his statement, Awais said he had not been kidnapped and had left on his own. He told police that he had been working in Aabpara Market when, one day, he went to the railway station. At the time, he was around 13 or 14 years old. 

He said he had no contact number or other means of communication and boarded a train, which eventually took him to Karachi, where he stayed for about two-and-a-half years.  A relative of the boy thanked the SP, SHO and Islamabad police for their assistance in tracing Awais and reuniting him with his family.  Awais also expressed gratitude to the Islamabad police for helping his family find him.  SHO Zulfiqar said the Islamabad police would continue working around the clock to serve citizens. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)