Protest after year-long mystery of missing kids

Families, residents block Garden-Nishtar Road in frustration

KARACHI:

Residents and families of two missing children staged a protest on Garden-Nishtar Road on Wednesday, expressing frustration over one year of inaction in the case of their disappearance. The demonstration caused severe traffic disruption in Garden, MA Jinnah Road, and surrounding areas.

The missing children, five-year-old Aliyan and six-year-old Ali Raza, went missing from the Garden area on January 14, 2025. Despite repeated assurances from the police, no breakthrough has been reported, leaving families and neighbours feeling ignored and desperate for answers.

During the protest, the mothers of the children were visibly distressed, appealing for justice and the safe return of their children. Demonstrators blocked roads to highlight their grievances, demanding that the authorities reactivate the investigation, deploy modern technology and all available resources, and hold those responsible for negligence accountable.

The protest caused long traffic jams, disrupting commuters and office-goers, while a few traffic police officers attempted to reroute vehicles to maintain some flow. After approximately one hour, discussions with the police led to the protesters reopening the road.

Families of the missing children said that even after a year, they remain anxiously waiting for justice and the safe return of Aliyan and Ali Raza, with their grief compounded by a perceived lack of urgency from law enforcement.