In a heart-wrenching revelation, a mother, Shaheen Akhtar, finally reunited with her mentally challenged son after a seven-year search when she spotted him begging at Rawalpindi’s Tahli Mohri Chowk, as reported by Dawn.
Mustakeem Khalid, a former policeman battling a mental disorder, had been missing since 2016, a disappearance attributed to the aftermath of typhoid fever. His mother, Shaheen Akhtar, had tirelessly filed a missing person report with the Civil Lines police years ago, detailing her son’s tendency to leave home due to depression. Despite prior instances of villagers bringing him back, Mustakeem had not returned after departing in 2016.
The emotional reunion unfolded when Shaheen Akhtar stumbled upon her son amidst a group of beggars at Tahli Mohri Chowk. Disturbingly, Mustakeem was being coerced to beg by a gang, comprising three women and two men, exploiting his vulnerability due to his disability.
Recognizing her long-lost son, Shaheen Akhtar rushed to embrace him. However, the gang members accompanying Mustakeem reacted aggressively, assaulting and abusing her. It was revealed that Mustakeem Khalid had been abducted and rendered helpless by the gang to engage in begging.
The police swiftly responded to the situation, arresting four members of the beggars’ gang, including their leader Wahid and three women. Investigations have commenced to trace and apprehend other accomplices involved in this distressing exploitation.
Wahid, identified as the gang’s leader and the real brother of two detained members, Maryam and Sabina, was captured following the arrests. Law enforcement authorities are conducting raids to detain the remaining members of the gang, as reported by Dawn.
The heart-wrenching tale of Mustakeem Khalid’s exploitation sheds light on the plight of vulnerable individuals coerced into begging, and the emotional turmoil experienced by families seeking their missing loved ones. Shaheen Akhtar’s unwavering determination has led to the reunion with her son, sparking hope amidst a distressing situation.
Sources By Agencies
