Dua Mangi returns home after a week

She is safe but shaken, says her cousin; police decline to comment on rumours of ransom

KARACHI: Nineteen-year-old Dua Mangi, abducted from Defence Housing Authority Phase VI, returned home on Saturday. Despite rumours afloat of a hefty ransom amount securing her return, both the family and the police declined to comment in this regard.

According to Dua’s cousin, Keenjhar Sindhu, Dua returned to her home at around 10:15am on Saturday morning. She is unhurt but shaken, said Sindhu.

She is distressed at the moment and is still recovering, she told The Express Tribune, while adding that the family would address the media’s questions later.

The police confirmed Dua’s return as well but failed to provide any details in this regard. South DIG Sharjeel Kharal said that the investigation was on-going and declined to respond when asked whether a ransom was paid.

Dua was abducted by unidentified persons from Bukhari Commercial Area on the night of November 30. Dua’s friend, Haris Fatah, who was with her at the time, was shot for putting up resistance and is still under treatment at a private hospital.

Failing to make headway in the investigation, the police had appealed to citizens on Thursday to share any information relating to the kidnapping on the Madadgar 15 helpline. Rumours of a ransom call to the family had broken the same day but were denied by the family.

Protests were held for Dua’s safe recovery in Karachi and across Sindh by her friends and family, rights activists and civil society members.

“Dua’s return is thanks to the collective efforts of those who raised their voices at the matter,” said Aijaz Mangi, Dua’s uncle, in a Facebook post. “We have to continue the struggle so no other girl suffers this way,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2019.