After returning from disappearance, minor siblings say domestic abuse made them leave home

Two minor siblings who returned home on Wednesday 13 hours after mysteriously disappearing from the North Nazimabad area of Karachi in the late hours of Tuesday have stated that they were not kidnapped by anyone and had themselves decided to leave the home because of mistreatment and abuse.

The minor siblings —12-year-old Muhammad Ayan and 11-year-old Anabia Naz — went missing on March 12 from near Five Start Chowrangi North Nazimabad Block H within the limits of the Hyderi Market police station.

Their mother confirmed their return on social media, claiming that someone phoned her and informed the location of the children. Her brother later went to the said location along with the Rangers and found the children.

Police said they were investigating the case from different angles and would obtain footage of the closed-circuit television cameras installed in the vicinity.

The disappearance of the minor siblings came into public notice after their mother appealed for help on social media. The mother, Shumaila Naz, said the children had left their home after 11pm to buy burgers from a food shop nearby but did not return. Providing details about her children, the mother said Ayan was wearing a green kurta and white pajama and Anabia was donning a pink shirt and leggings.

“So far, we have not been able to find any information about them,” said the mother. She added that the children never go anywhere without informing their elders.

She said that after 20 to 25 minutes had passed, her brother went to look for them but could not find them. “We searched for the children everywhere but couldn't find any information about them. If anyone has any information, please inform us,” pleaded the mother. “Pray that my children return safely.”

It was later revealed that the parents of the children had separated 8 years ago. Their father lives in Karachi and the mother is employed in Dubai. Both the children live with their maternal uncle.

As the police initiated investigations, they approached the children’s father, Rashid, who lives on the Super Highway. "I divorced my wife eight years ago," he said, adding that the children were living at their maternal grandmother's house and it was their responsibility to take care of them.

“The last time I met my children was a year ago,” he mentioned. The missing siblings’ maternal uncle said that they left home around midnight to get something. “After 20 minutes had passed without the children returning, I went out to look for them,” said the uncle. “We suspected that the father had taken the children, but when he came to the police station, our suspicion was dispelled.”

A spokesperson for the District Central police said the case of the missing Ayan and Anabia had been registered at the Hyderi Market police station. The children were last seen descending from their home in North Nazimabad Block H around midnight to buy burgers.

However, when the children returned, their statement changed the nature of the case altogether as they told police that they had themselves decided to leave home because they were abused and mistreated there.

After their statement, police took the children into protective custody. According to the children, they experienced abuse at home where they were made to do household chores and were served meals cooked in old cooking oil.

They also mentioned incidents of physical abuse. The children said they left home because of this mistreatment. In their video statement, they explained that after leaving home, they met a couple in a car whom they asked to take them to the Edhi Centre because of the abuse they faced at home.

The couple took the children to their home where they stayed until Wednesday afternoon when they were dropped near a shopping mall and their family was informed about it. On the other hand, the children's mother showed strong dissatisfaction at the children’s statement being aired by the media mentioning the media's lack of seriousness and irresponsibility.

She said that media representatives did not consider the extent of suffering and abuse the children might have endured throughout the night and day. She added that it seemed her children were coerced into giving a false statement.