KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday described the growing number of missing and abducted children in Sindh as one of the province’s gravest humanitarian crises, and blamed the PPP-led provincial government for failing to protect vulnerable citizens.

Speaking at a press conference at party headquarters Insaf House, PTI-Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh alleged that Priya Kumari, abducted in 2021, had yet to be recovered. He also referred to several other missing children, including Ali Asghar Mangrio (missing since 2015), Fatima Taniyo (2023), Sonia Khoso (2025), Majid Ali Lashari, Asifa Mughal, Ajala Parveen Solangi, Saba Kalhoro, Tayyab Jogi, Khushi Mehr, Muskan Sheikh, Wakeelan Sheikh, Zainab and Fiza Memon, Sohana, Momin Ali Langah, Safeer Memon, Haider Ali and others.

He said that dozens of families continue to await justice and criticised the province’s law and order situation, claiming that although Rs222 billion had been allocated for law and order in the current financial year and around Rs2.2 trillion had been spent over the past 18 years, incidents of robbery, murder, kidnapping and street crime continued to rise.

Referring to recent incidents, including the killing of Dr Akash during a robbery in Karachi and the murder of Bhiro Kolhi near Khipro in Sanghar district, he claimed that 43 citizens had been killed in Karachi during robberies in the first seven months of the year. He alleged that the police were being used for political purposes instead of ensuring public safety.

Haleem Adil terms growing number of missing children a humanitarian crisis

Protests outside KPC to mark ‘black day’

Sheikh announced that the party would stage peaceful protests outside the Karachi Press Club and district and divisional press clubs across Sindh on August 5 to mark three years since the incarceration of former prime minister Imran Khan, calling it a “Black Day.”

He said the nationwide protest campaign would be held to demand Imran Khan’s release and to raise what he described as concerns over constitutional rights, democracy and the public mandate.

The press conference was attended by PTI central leader Aftab Jahangir, PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar, Karachi General Secretary Arslan Khalid, Muhammad Ali Baloch, Fauzia Siddiqui, Farrukh Jameel Khan, Agha Arsalan, Sareena Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Mallah, Moazzam Khan, Naveed Alam Siddiqui, Advocate Arshad and other party leaders.

The PTI leader said that Aug 5 remained a significant date in Pakistan’s political history, alleging that Imran Khan had been imprisoned for raising his voice for national sovereignty and the rights of the people.

He credited the former prime minister with advocating against Islamophobia at the United Nations, opposing drone strikes through his “absolutely not” policy, launching the Ehsaas Programme and the Sehat Card, initiating dam and university projects and pursuing policies aimed at strengthening the economy.

He said Imran Khan continued to enjoy widespread public support. He also urged citizens to participate in the Aug 5 demonstrations at the Karachi Press Club and across Sindh in support of Imran Khan’s release and what the party described as the restoration of constitutional and democratic norms.

He also criticised repeated increases in petroleum prices, saying the hikes had placed an unbearable burden on the public. He claimed that more than Rs125 per litre are being collected in taxes and levies on petrol and diesel, and demanded the abolition of the petroleum levy to provide relief to consumers.

PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar said the party would hold a massive public gathering on Aug 5 if permission was granted by the authorities. He challenged the Sindh government to allow the rally, saying the public would demonstrate the party’s support in Karachi.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2026