TOBA TEK SINGH: A mentally-challenged young man, Muhammad Yaqub, alias Yooba Dogar, of Kamalia, missing for one and a half years has been spotted under arrest in India.

His elder brother Muhammad Yousaf Dogar told reporters that it was a routine of Yaqoob since his childhood that he would disappear from his house and return sometime after several weeks or months but this time he did not return even after more than 18 months. His family searched everywhere but failed to find him.

He added that someone told him that he saw a video clip of an Indian TV channel `GM media news’ on youtube dated Aug 3, 2019, in which he identified Yaqub in BSF custody in Ferozepur (India). Yousaf said he himself watched the clip and found that he was his missing brother.

He added that on searching India media, he also found a news printed on Aug 3, 2019, in Deccan Chronicle online edition which explained that Yaqub, of Kamalia (Toba Tek Singh), Pakistan, was arrested by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Battalion No 118 when he was roaming under suspicious circumstances near Donald Rai Dina Nath BSF post on India-Pakistan border.

He urged the Pakistani foreign ministry to contact its Indian counterpart for the return of his brother. He also requested the Indian government to release and send him back to Pakistan. He said his brother could be examined by mental diseases’ doctors.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2020