The mysterious disappearance of two youth from Skardu city some two week ago and police failure in their safe recovery as sowed fear and panic among the peace-loving people of the city and region. Habib, 22, son of Ibrahim and Niaz Ali, 22, son of Mohsin, second year intermediate students at Federal Boys Degree College Skardu (FBDCS), did not return to their homes since Thursday 22 January.
The worried families along with local police keep on searching; however despite the passage of 13 days after their disappearance, they are clueless about the youths' whereabouts. Habib and Niaz were originally hailing from Ochey Fultux and Babachan Gultari areas, respectively, who were leaving in Hargisa and Sukmaidan areas, respectively when they went missing.
Their disappearance is more than a mystery for the residents of Skardu, a city, which can be counted among the most peaceful areas of the country. The mysterious disappearance has created fear and panic among the residents of the city, who are not used to kidnapping or disappearances. Although police managed to trace the last phone call made from the missing youths' cell phones, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Skardu Muhammad Maaz said that the law enforcement agencies were still clueless about their whereabouts.
"According to preliminary investigation, both went to Kharpocho Fort, a recreational place located on the eastern face of the Khardong Hill around 1400 feet above Skardu city," he said. Police is working on various leads obtained after the registration of the case. "We have constituted teams in Skardu and Gilgit city to ascertain the facts, all available resources are being utilised for their recovery," Maaz added.
"Niaz went outside at 1:00 pm on Thursday, January 22, even leaving his notebook open at his study room. It has been thirteen days, but he did not comeback," said Mohsin, father of Niaz Ali. "I have no personnel enmity with anyone; we very upset, and can not imagine what has happened with us. I did all what I could do for my son's recovery, I request the provincial government particularly chief minister GB to take personal interest in the case for safe recovery of our children," he appealed.
President, Social Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation, Gultari, Gilgit Baltistan, (SKKFGGB) Raza Hydari while talking to this scribe on phone from Skardu said that a missing complaint-157 was lodged in the city police station. To a query he said police was working apparently in right direction, however it has so far been unable to recover the missing youths.
"It seems that something is wrong with their missing. I must say that this might have been done with a preplan," he comprehended. "We have got published advertisements regarding their disappearances in some regional newspapers, and requested the concerned authorities including DIG, Commissioner Skardu, and officials of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to solve the case," he added.