August 22, 2024
by Bilal Baseer
ISLAMABAD
Matlooba Bibi has been living in a state of constant longing for her grandson for the past year.
Last August, 16-year-old Muhammad Ali suddenly went missing from Abbottabad. Two months later, the family’s fears took an unexpected turn when they received a WhatsApp call from Ludhiana, India. Through the call it was revealed that Muhammad Ali had made his way across the border, and was now in a juvenile detention center in Ludhiana.
But Matlooba Bibi has expressed her confusion, saying the family has no idea how he got there. There may have been a possibility that someone abducted him, or that he entered a vehicle on his own that ended up with him on the other side of the border. “Ever since we have known his whereabouts, we have tried everything for his safe return,” she says.
Disappearance
Muhammad Banaras, desperate to have his son back safely, says that Ali left home on August 8, 2023, to visit him in Rawalpindi. But after reaching the bus terminal in Abbottabad, he disappeared mysteriously.
“I have filed a report with the local police station and have been told that an investigation is underway,” he said in an interview with Voicepk. “How Muhammad Ali ended up in India is still a mystery and more investigation is needed.”
Ali’s family comes from Gramari, a secluded village near Abbottabad. The fact that the village is quite a distance away from the Indian border, it is not a common occurance for locals to cross over into Indian territory accidently.
Local councilor (nazim) Nazir Muhammad, confirmed that this was the first incident of its kind where someone – a child – had crossed over into India from their area.
Now, determined to bring his son home, Banaras has been visiting government offices everyday. He is deeply concerned that his son is too young and innocent to face such an ordeal. Besides he is concerned for the time he is losing as his education is disrupted.
Meanwhile, government officials have declined to comment on camera, but they have confirmed to Voicepk that the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi is coordinating with Indian authorities and have requested consular access. They are now awaiting a response from the Indian side.
Human rights activist Haroon Tanoli, highlights that Pakistan has the right to demand Muhammad Ali’s repatriation under the Pakistan-India agreement made in 2008. But he does fear that Ali may have been targeted by human traffickers. Tanoli emphasized the need for Ali’s immediate return, citing the disruption to his education.
Law enforcement agencies have also clarified that Muhammad Ali was not connected to any illegal activity. The local community has pressed the government to step in and facilitate his return to Pakistan.