KARACHI: At least nine girls staying in the Edhi Centre Clifton were reportedly kidnapped on Monday by some unidentified persons in the vicinity of the British Deputy High Commission when they were being shifted to the Edhi Centre Sohrab Goth, but surprisingly all reached home safely. Sources in the Edhi Centre told The News that a few girls residing in their Clifton Centre were being shifted to the Sohrab Goth Centre in an Edhi vehicle when unidentified persons intercepted the vehicle near the British Deputy High Commission in Boating Basin police jurisdiction, and kidnapped them. The kidnapped girls were identified as Gulshan, 18, and her 10-year-old sister Mehnaz, both daughters of Abdul Aziz, Perveen, 12, and her 10-year-old sister Rozina, both daughters of Abdul Rehman, and Sakina, 12, Aasiya, 10, and Kulsoom, 8, all daughters of Abdul Rasheed, the sources added.

Tariq Jamil, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Karachi told The News that the kidnapped girls had reached their homes, including the only young girl, who was in her teens. “She had left her house, situated in Landhi locality, a few days ago after a quarrel with her sister,” he added. When contacted Arif Razzak, SHO Boating Basin police station, told The News that two girls, both daughters of Abdul Malik, reached their home situated in Mauripur locality. Quoting Fatima, the elder sister of the two minor girls, he said that Aziza, 10, and Sumaira, 9, who had been admitted to the Edhi Centre on Nov 29, by their father reached their home safely.

Fatima, who lives in the Nasir Colony locality of Korangi, talking to The News on her cellphone confirmed the safe arrival of her two sisters and said, “Who released them?” Sources close to Aziza, and Sumaira’s family expressing the most tragic part of this story told The News that Abdul Malik, the father of the two girls, had admitted his both daughters to the Edhi Centre on Nov 29 because he could not bear their expenses.
However, police have detained one Abdullah, the driver of Edhi vehicle, for giving controversial and confusing statements regarding the kidnapping of the girls and investigations have been started to ascertain the facts, sources in the police.
Source: The News
Date:12/5/2006