Compelled Mother’s Earrings, Heavenly Court, and Police.
*(From Dard Nagar)*
Tahseen Bukhari
press7828@gmail.com
Gul Khatoon belongs to district Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab. Around 60 years old, she lives in the jurisdiction of the Sadar Police Station, in Chak 72, from the Machhi community. Her family is extremely poor. Her son, Rasheed, earns Rs. 500–600 daily, providing for the family’s basic meals. Their poverty is evident; on days when Rasheed doesn't earn, neighbors or relatives send food out of sympathy.
On April 29, Rasheed went out for work and didn’t return. His elderly parents waited for him to bring groceries to cook dinner, but as night fell, their worry grew. His phone was switched off, and no relative could provide information about him. The next day, they received a call from Rasheed’s number. The caller claimed to be from Kashmore, stating they had abducted Rasheed and demanded Rs. 5 million ransom, threatening to kill him otherwise.
The elderly parents pleaded about their poverty, explaining Rasheed barely earned a few hundred rupees a day. They approached the Sadar Police Station, where the SHO brushed them off, citing a busy schedule. After repeated visits and persistence, they managed to involve an ASI, who demanded bribes under the guise of tracing the location and retrieving data.
The helpless parents eventually stopped involving the police, fearing more exploitation. Meanwhile, Rasheed’s abductors sold him to another gang for Rs. 600,000. Rasheed pleaded with the gang, urging them to let him contact his parents to arrange the amount. The mother sold her earrings, and the father begged relatives, managing to gather the ransom. They contacted the kidnappers, who promised the Quran as a guarantee of Rasheed’s release.
The kidnappers took the money, handed Rasheed over, and even returned Rs. 2,000 as a token of goodwill, adhering to local traditions. The parents lamented the police's indifference, contrasting it with the kidnappers’ adherence to cultural customs.
This tragic incident highlights widespread corruption and apathy in the police force, leaving poor families like Gul Khatoon’s to fend for themselves. The author urges higher authorities to ensure justice for Gul Khatoon by reimbursing her ransom money and taking action against negligent officers. Gul Khatoon awaits justice, having left her plea in both worldly and divine courts.
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