ISLAMABAD: PPP Senator Taj Haider, who recently won a custody battle over a child, which lasted two years, on Wednesday expressed concern that the child in question had gone missing.

“I am worried about the girl since anything could happen to her. The woman who had custody of the child has disappeared; even the woman’s father has moved house. The Rawalpindi police have also submitted a report that the child could not be recovered,” he said.

Mr Haider told Dawn that almost four years ago, he saw an advertisement on social media about a three and a half year old girl who was found in Attock city and taken to the Rawalpindi Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB).

The advertisement asked that the child’s parents contact the CPWB.

Taj Haider claims woman who previously had custody of child has disappeared

“During Ziaul Haq’s rule, I sent my children to France and they have never returned since. It was then I married Naheed (his current wife). I brought the child to Parliament Lodges many times and she became used to being in our company. She liked the dresses we bought for her, and then we decided to take custody of the child. But in the meantime, a child protection officer of the CPWB applied for custody and the management of CPWB handed the girl over to her,” he said.

“I went to the court of a Rawalpindi special judge, where as many as three judges were changed and finally the case was transferred to the court of the Rawalpindi sessions judge. Meanwhile, a couple from Gujranwala claimed that they were the parents of the child but a DNA test proved [they were] wrong,” he said.

He said the matter went to the high court and finally the Supreme Court.

The case was contested by Farooq Naek on his behalf, he said, and the SC directed the trial court to hear and decide the case within three months.

“Rawalpindi Additional Sessions Judge Ali Raza Awan heard the case and on June 21 announced a 13-page decision with a direction to hand over the child to me. Moreover, the court demanded a surety bond of Rs1 million, surety that the child would be given quality education and a surety bond was also demanded from my wife. As there were Eid holidays, we completed all the requirements by July 10 and submitted them to the court,” he said.

He said the woman who had custody of the child had disappeared.

“Airport police went to her house but it was found locked. Then, the police went to her father’s house but that house was also found locked. On Wednesday I contacted the court again and requested a warrant for the arrest of the woman, so the child would be recovered.

Mr Haider said he was worried about the child, as the CPWB was also unaware of her whereabouts.

Tens of children are brought to the CPWB, but most of them are sent back to their families sooner or later.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2017