The parents of seven-year-old Muhammad Sarim, who was allegedly kidnapped on January 7, received ransom messages from an international number demanding Rs500,000 for his release.
Sarim’s father said the messages were sent to his wife from a Middle Eastern number and began earlier on Thursday.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) linked the kidnapping to a group operating across provinces. Their investigation revealed that the number was being used by a gang based in Punjab.
Inspector General Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon set up a special unit for missing children, but Sarim’s case has not yet been transferred there.
Police found no evidence of kidnapping, including CCTV footage, to explain the boy’s disappearance.
Sarim, a resident of North Karachi’s Sector 5, went missing on January 7 while returning home from a madrassa. His parents filed an FIR under Section 364-A (kidnapping a minor) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
A week later, law enforcement agencies have still not located Sarim.