SAHIWAL: The Sahiwal Police claimed to have traced a kidnapped boy at the Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine along with the alleged kidnapper after twenty days of digital monitoring, contact surveillance, and physical searches across different shrines of Karachi.

District Police Officer (DPO) Usman Tipu told Dawn that the kidnapper had intended to sell the boy in Karachi but failed to find a suitable buyer. He said the main suspect, Imran, had been arrested and the abducted boy, Talha, had been recovered.

Reports said Talha often visited a nearby animal pond to collect milk where he became acquainted with its caretaker Ali Imran (25). On May 12, Imran, accompanied by Umar and two unidentified men, visited Talha’s house and invited him to dinner. With his parents’ permission, Talha went with them on a motorcycle but did not return home. The family searched extensively and later discovered that both Talha and Imran had disappeared at the same time.

On May 14, the Farid Town Police registered a kidnapping case against five suspects, including three unidentified persons and started investigations. The DPO formed a three-member committee, headed by Farid Town SHO Afzaal to track down the suspects. Police collected GPS locations and also the call record data.

Investigations revealed that Imran took Talha to the Sahiwal Railway Station on the same day and told him that they were going to Chichawatni city for dinner. Police claimed that he gave him some intoxicants and transported him to Karachi and there he threatened him to remain silent and posed him as his elder brother.

Police further claimed that to avoid detection, Imran sold his iPhone and purchased a basic phone, frequently changing locations to evade GPS monitoring.

The investigators went to Karachi and contacted the shop owner where he had sold his phone. Investigators later suspected that Imran, in need of money, might be staying at shrines. Police searched different shrines especially at night and on Saturday, police traced both at the Abdullah Shah Ghazi Shrine and found them. Police claimed that Imran was arrested and Talha was safely recovered.

DPO Tipu said that Imran had confessed to intending to sell the boy but failed to find a buyer. Talha told the police that he was not physically harmed and was provided food from shrines and inexpensive hotels. SHO Afzaal confirmed that the boy was handed over to his parents at the DPO office in the presence of the DPO and other police officials.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026