Additional Punjab Inspector General (IG) Nadeem Nawaz submitted a report in the Supreme Court, stating that 6793 children were abducted in different parts of Punjab in the last six years, out of which, 6654 have been recovered till now.
Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar resumed hearing of a suo moto notice over rising cases of abduction of children in Punjab at SC Lahore Registry on Thursday. The police report reveals that 1808 children were kidnapped between 2015 and 2016. A total of 1715 minors have been recovered so far while investigation process to locate 93 others is underway.
The report further states that 767 kidnapping cases were reported in the first seven months of 2016. 715 children were rescued whereas 52 cases are being investigated at the moment. Meanwhile, the apex court ordered police to finalise the probe of ten cases till next hearing of the case.
Justice Saqib Nisar had taken a suo moto notice on July 26 after it was reported in the media that more than 600 children were abducted from the province of Punjab, approximately 300 from Lahore alone in recent days.
“It has been highlighted that such abductions are orchestrated with the nefarious object of extracting vital body organs of the abductees; while another attribution is for sexual abuse and / or beggary etc. through the children. That in any case such large scale abduction, if so, of children in a short span of time is a matter of immense concern and alarm,” Justice Saqib Nisar observed.
He further stated: “It is violative of the fundamental rights especially of life, liberty, safety and free movement and undoubtedly is of great public and thus the matter calls for cognizance within the purview of Article 184(3) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973.”
The acting CJP had issued notices to the Punjab Inspector General to depute some high ranking police officer to provide details of the kidnapping incidents.
