RAWALPINDI: A college student went missing in Satellite Town nine days ago, after he went to grocery store near his hostel to buy washing powder, his parents said.

Asim Zia, 16, is from Gilgit, and was enrolled at a college in Satellite Town. He was living in a private hostel when he went missing after he left for a store at around 10pm on February 17.

His roommates and the hostel administration began a search soon after he disappeared, but have not been able to find him. They then informed his parents, who came to Rawalpindi and turned to the police.

Ziauddin, a former military man and Asim’s father, said he has been asking the police for help since his son disappeared. He said his son was a student and wasn’t involved in any other activity.

He said he had searched police stations, hospitals and CIA centre, and had asked friends and family about his whereabouts as well.

“The police may not cooperate with us, but I can’t give up the search for my son,” Mr Zia said. He said that the police said they did not know where his son was.

Separately, a man was shot dead in the Dhoke Syedian area on Thursday, police said.

Mushtaq Ahmed, who was in his 60s, was on the way to the district courts to attend the hearing of a murder case registered against his brother, when two individuals on a motorcycle shot him.

Police said Ahmed was killed on the spot, and his attackers escaped. The investigating officer said that since it appears to be a motivated murder, the alleged attackers have been identified but have not been arrested yet.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2016