KARACHI: A fresh wave of questions has emerged following the recovery of two-and-a-half-year-old Azaan, the Karachi child who was allegedly kidnapped from Naya Nazimabad, as conflicting accounts from the family and law enforcement continue to cloud the investigation.
The toddler was reportedly abducted from the Naya Nazimabad housing society, which falls under the jurisdiction of Manghopir Police Station. On Monday, police announced that Azaan had been recovered safely from the Gharo area. However, uncertainty remains over whether the child was rescued during a police operation or abandoned by the kidnappers before being found by local residents.
According to Karachi police, the child was recovered during an intelligence-based operation conducted in Gharo. In contrast, Azaan’s uncle claimed that a local resident recognized the missing child from viral social media posts and informed the family, leading to his safe recovery.
The child’s mother alleged that neither the housing society’s administration nor the police provided meaningful assistance during the search. She said photographs and videos of Azaan circulated widely on social media for three days, putting pressure on the kidnappers and ultimately forcing them to abandon the child.
She further claimed that the suspects used an unidentified person’s mobile phone to upload a social media post stating that a two-year-old child had been found crying by the roadside and asking the parents to collect him.
Upon reaching the location, the family reportedly received different versions of how the child arrived there. Some residents claimed Azaan had been left outside a house overnight, while others said he was discovered in the morning. Another account suggested that two unidentified men left the child after stopping for tea and food.
The case became even more complicated after contradictory statements surfaced from the child’s parents, Karachi police, and Hyderabad Range police.
Meanwhile, officials from the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) revealed that the child’s father had reportedly received a ransom demand of Rs5 million. Under standard procedure, such cases are transferred to the AVCC. However, officials noted that Azaan was reported recovered within an hour of the alleged ransom call, raising questions about how the recovery occurred so quickly.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact sequence of events behind the alleged kidnapping and Azaan’s recovery, while many key questions remain unanswered.
