Under investigation: Two kidnapped children recovered from city

HARIPUR:

The police arrested an Afghan national and recovered two minor children from him on Monday.

Haripur City police said Waheed, a resident of Mohallah Aziz Colony, owed some money to Abdul Latif, an Afghan refugee, but failed to pay him back.

When Waheed’s children, Sadaf and Siraj — five and eight years respectively — went to the market, Latif forcibly dragged them into his vehicle.  After some time, the accused called Waheed on his cell phone informing him his children were kidnapped and would be set free from Peshawar once the debt was paid.

Waheed informed the police, which led to a heightened search of vehicles at exit points.  Police recovered two children from a car on Khanpur Road. However, Waheed’s family denies it was monetary dispute.  The police have arrested the accused and registered a criminal case against him.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2015.