Community outrage mounts in Gilgit over lack of progress in minor girl’s kidnapping case

GILGIT: The alleged kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl, Falak Noor, in Gilgit has sparked considerable concern and outrage among the local community as police efforts to locate her have remained fruitless for over two months.

Falak, the daughter of Sakhi Ahmed Jan, has been missing since January 20, after she left her home to attend a Quran study session at noon and failed to return.

According to her distressed father, he discovered his daughter’s absence upon returning from work around 4 pm, initiating a frantic search with family and neighbors which yielded no results.

After conducting further searches following evening prayers, the family was compelled to file a missing person report with the Danyore Police Station.

In a subsequent development, Jan was informed by a relative of the suspect, identified only as teenage boy Freed, that his daughter was abducted in a non-custom paid car, bearing the number plate (Gilgit A-14).

Acting on this information, Jan lodged an FIR against Freed, accusing him of abducting Falak under pretenses, as detailed in the complaint registered under section 364 A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertains to the kidnapping or abducting of a person under the age of fourteen.

Despite these efforts and the identification of the vehicle involved, the local police have been unable to make significant progress in the case.

Frustrated by the lack of action, Jan has sought the intervention of a session court in Gilgit, demanding a more expedited investigation, and has turned to the media for assistance in his quest for justice.

Head Officer at Danyore Police Station Inspector Syed Kamran provided insights into the relationship between the victim’s and the suspect’s families, noting that they were neighbours with familial ties and often visited each other’s homes.

Kamran disclosed that Freed also stole a sum of Rs0.4 million from his residence, the money that was acquired through his sister’s marriage, a common custom within the community.

The police have since arrested Freed’s father, while his uncle, who allegedly provided the vehicle for Noor’s abduction, has secured bail before arrest.

However, a session court in Gilgit recently revoked the uncle’s bail, transferring him into police custody, although he has since appealed to the chief court for bail reinstatement.

Read more: Eight-year-old girl kidnapped, murdered in Islamabad

Kamran mentioned rumors that the missing girl and boy had attempted to seek a court marriage in Chilas.

However, the lawyer they consulted advised against it, explaining that as minors, their union wouldn’t be legally recognized, and the judge could potentially order their arrest for attempting such an act.

Despite conducting multiple raids in Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, and Swat, the special team assigned to the case has not succeeded in locating Falak or Freed.

Inspector Kamran remains hopeful, stating, “We have leads. Inshallah, we will trace them within three to four days.” He added that they are dispatching an additional team to aid in the search.

Special Assistant to G-B Chief Minister Eiman Shah stated: “Since day one of this case, I have been in continuous contact with the girl’s parents. Alongside the provincial government, the police have made two separate trips to Swat and Mansehra in search of the girl, conducting raids at multiple locations.”

Furthermore, he said, the G-B chief minister has issued directives to accelerate the efforts for the girl’s recovery.