KARACHI:
On the second day of Eid, which is a joyous occasion for children and adults alike, a nine-year-old child was abducted by two men on a motorbike in broad daylight from the city of Shikarpur. In the aftermath, there was an atmosphere of mixed emotions among people. Some were in despair and others were not surprised, since it was not the first time such an incident had occurred. This gruesome abduction of vulnerable children has repeated itself time and again.
Young ones who play in the streets or are returning from school are targeted by these dacoits, and once the area clears, they abduct their target. So far, the dacoits have not sent any message, but they usually record videos of the tortured abductees, who are made to demand their freedom in exchange for jailed dacoits or ransom. This pattern has been witnessed periodically in nearly every kidnapping case involving children.
The fact remains that the police, despite this recurrence, have not been able to neutralise the situation or catch a single dacoit in the act. Considering that children can be abducted even on the most auspicious days and in broad daylight, the people of Shikarpur have expressed disappointment and voiced their eroded trust in the so-called champions of law and order but in vain. This matter must be dealt with the severity it deserves, and police forces must step up for the protection of our children.
Hamza Mustafa Soomro
Shikarpur
