Missing 5 years: Fazila Sarki’s case handed to AVCC

The SC took suo motu notice two years ago and ordered the police to find her within one month

SUKKUR: The Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) has started raids in villages near Karampur and Garhi Tegho in search of Fazila Sarki, who was kidnapped five years ago at the age of seven from the Garhi Hassan Sarki village, near Thull.

The Supreme Court took suo motu notice two years ago and ordered the police to find her within one month. Two years have passed but the Jacobabad police are still looking for leads. Fazila’s family has been on a token hunger strike outside the Thull press club for more than a month in protest. The case was handed over to AVCC SSP Ghulam Subhan Khuharo who said that an investigation is under way.

Abdul Razzaq Sarki, Fazila’s father, told The Express Tribune that at the time of his daughter’s kidnapping, the police arrested Qadir Bux Sarki, Allah Warrayo Sarki and Baboo Sarki. The men admitted to kidnapping and selling Fazila to the criminal Budho Sarki. Elders intervened and the men took an oath to bring the girl back within 24 hours. Abdul Razzaq received a call from Budho Sarki the next day, demanding Rs50,000 for returning Fazila. The police released the three accused men.

According to Abdul Razzaq, Budho Sarki allegedly sold the girl to Yakoob Teghani, a close acquaintance of Sardar Tegho Khan Teghani. Abdul Razzaq said that Sardar Zulfiqar Sarki confirmed that Fazila was with Teghani who refused to return her.

For his part, Sardar Zulfiqar Sarki has denied the charges levelled against him by Abdul Razzaq and said that he, along with Dr Ibrahim Jatoi and other sardars, went to Sardar Tegho Khan Teghani who denied having knowledge about Fazila. He added that if the girl was with Yakoob Teghani, Sardar Tegho Khan would have assisted in her return.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2012.