Child custody: Court issues notices to Edhi Foundation, police

Abdullah's father petitioned the court for guardianship after boy's mother was murdered

KARACHI: A District South family court issued on Thursday notices to the Edhi Foundation and police over the custody of a child, Abdullah, found 'abandoned' at Do Darya, seeking their reply by June 11.

The notices were issued on an application filed by Chaudhary Iqbal who claims to be the father of the child and seeks his custody as legal guardian.



Abdullah, 4, was handed over to the Edhi Foundation on May 25 by a man, Rizwan Ayaz Khan, who claimed that the child was found abandoned near Do Darya. This story, however, took a turn when a few days later a decomposed dead body of a woman was found in a house in Dehli Colony. The house was rented in the name of the same man who dropped Abdullah at the welfare organisation's office and the deceased was identified as Haleema - the child's mother. This development not only bridged the mystery surrounding the two separate incidents but also gave investigators clues to reach the end of the case.

Police have now nabbed the suspected murderer, Khan, in an intelligence-based drive in outskirts of the city off the Super Highway. He is deemed as the prime suspect, while his wife is also behind bars for her alleged facilitating role.



Whilst the police investigate, Iqbal, meanwhile, approached the court, pleading that Abdullah's custody should be given to him in the best interest of the child. Moving an application under Section 25 of the Guardian and Ward Act, the plaintiff also submitted an affidavit stating there was 'no objection' from the child's maternal grandmother, Bibi Shamim.

The applicant also pleaded to the court that the matter be heard on an urgent basis for the benefit of the child who has suffered the most in the scenario.

The judge, issuing notices to the Edhi Foundation and police investigating the case, sought their replies by Saturday.  District South police were also scheduled to hold a press conference on the issue later on Thursday evening.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2016.