IHC orders father's arrest in toddler abduction case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued an arrest warrant for a man who is accused of abducting his 2.5-year-old daughter from his ex-wife.

The court has instructed the police to arrest Afzal Mahmood and present him before the court by Monday. If he is not found, the IHC has ordered that the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and passports of his entire family be blocked.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard a petition filed by the child's mother against her ex-husband.

The court emphasised that this case is not merely a domestic dispute but a serious issue concerning the welfare of a child.

Justice Kayani expressed strong disapproval of the accused's actions and directed that the child be recovered under all circumstances.

In addition to the arrest order, the court has mandated that the accused's second wife be produced at the next hearing.

The court also ordered that details of the accused's property and bank accounts be submitted as part of the case record. The final order will be issued after reviewing these records.

The mother reported that her ex-husband abducted their daughter shortly after they left the house, and despite three months having passed, there has been no trace of the child.

The accused's lawyer requested leniency, citing Mahmood's health issues.

However, the court dismissed this request, noting that the accused had been absconding for three months and had already been given multiple opportunities to comply with the court's directives.