Police file kidnapping FIR in missing girl case

Day-long search along four kilometres stretch of Nullah Leh ends without leads; locals stage protest

RAWALPINDI:

Following a day-long search for a six-year-old girl who went missing near Committee Chowk which bore no fruit, the police have registered a kidnapping case and officially launched an investigation.

Earlier in the day, when the girl's father reported that his daughter had gone missing near Landa Bazaar, Rescue 1122 launched a large-scale search operation, covering four kilometres of Nullah Leh, which was aided by the police and WASA officials, amid fears she may have been swept away by rainwater.

According to officials, a resident of Lahore, Umair Ahmed, had come to Rawalpindi with his family to visit his in-laws. As the family prepared to return home on Thursday morning, he was helping his children into the car when he realised that his daughter, Hareem Umair, had suddenly disappeared.

Heavy overnight rain had left stormwater drains in the area flowing at a high level.

Rescue 1122 and police were informed immediately, after which rescue teams launched a search operation.

The area where the child is believed to have fallen includes both open and covered sections of the drain.

Two water rescue teams, comprising 12 rescuers and five vehicles, took part in the operation.

District Emergency Officer Engineer Sibghatullah said the search was divided into four sectors, covering the route from the incident site through Bohar Bazaar Chowk, Colonel Maqbool Chowk, Liaquat Road and Gawalmandi.

The operation was later extended from the point where the drainage channel enters Nullah Lai up to Moti Mahal Bridge.

He said line searches had been completed over an area exceeding four kilometres and that all available resources were being utilised. WASA staff also assisted Rescue 1122 during the operation.

Speaking to the media, the child's father said water had accumulated in the area, and the girl suddenly went missing. He said he immediately searched nearby streets and questioned a security guard and relatives present there, but no one had seen her.

The search operation continued until after sunset but failed to locate the child. Rescue officials said the operation was temporarily suspended due to darkness and would resume early on Friday morning with all available resources.

When the search operation was stopped and the girl was not found, the relatives and people of the area gathered at Bohar Bazar Chowk and protested vigorously.

The protests led Waris Khan police station to register a kidnapping case on the complaint of her father, Umair Ali.