PESHAWAR: Like other parts of the country, the number of missing children has been on rise in Peshawar, not only the children but the cases of missing teenagers and elders have also increased manifold.
During the last two months the number of missing individuals in Peshawar reached 40, according to the police officials.
The data compiled by Edhi Foundation suggested otherwise as a staggering number of as many as 600 missing children in Peshawar and other districts of the province had so far been reported during the last six months.
In Swat district at least 16 children have reportedly gone missing during the last three months, official sources revealed.
During the last few days, relatives of at least five people filed the reports of missing individuals with the police in Peshawar.
Three teenagers have been missing from a village Tarnab while owner of a hotel along with his son had mysteriously gone missing from Faqirabad area of Peshawar city.
Sakhiullah, a resident of Tarnab said that his 16-year old son Rehan Sakhi along with his two friends, 19-year old Hilal Ahmad and 16-year old Zabihllah have been missing since August 24.
Talking to Daily Times he said that the day the three youngsters went missing Zabihullah had made a phone call to his brother informing him that he along with his friends had gone for Tableegh (religious preaching mission). Since then their cell-phones had been remaining turned off, he added.
When the family members visited the Tableeghi Markaz they were informed that the teenagers had not been to the Markaz.
After knowing that the teenagers had not gone for Tableegh, the family members contacted their relatives and friends to trace the whereabouts of the missing teens. The worried families also contacted the Edhi Foundation and registered their complaints at the Chamkani Police Station.
Father of Rehan Sakhi said that his son was working with him in his tyre shop and they have no enmity with anybody.
Maternal Uncle of Zabihullah said that his mother has been in a state of shock since she knows the news of her son went missing.
He said that Zabihullah’s grandmother sent him to bazaar to buy grocery but he never returned home from the bazaar.
In another case, owner of Dubai Hotel, Muhammad Shabir, along with his son Muhammad Hussain went missing on August 27.
Shams, a resident of Faqirabad, said that his father Muhammad Shabbir left home for his hotel at 10:30 am but never reached there.
He added that the same day someone contacted his brother Muhammad Hussain on his phone who after meeting the mysterious caller did not return home.
Shams said that their mobile phones are switched off since their kidnapping.