Traffic is paralyzed on Garden-Nishtar Road as families, accompanied by children, protest against a year of police inaction, demanding justice and the safe return of Aliyan and Ali Raza. Photo: Jalal Qureshi/Express
KARACHI:
Residents and families of two missing children held a protest Wednesday on Garden-Nishtar Road, expressing frustration over a year of inaction in the case of their disappearance. The protest caused severe traffic disruptions in Garden, MA Jinnah Road and surrounding areas.
The missing children, Aliyan, five, and Ali Raza, six, disappeared from the Garden area on January 14, 2025. Despite repeated assurances from the police, no progress has been reported, leaving families and neighbors feeling ignored and desperate for answers.
During the protest, the children’s mothers were visibly distressed, calling for justice and the safe return of their children. Protesters blocked roads to air their grievances, demanding that authorities reactivate the investigation, deploy modern technology and all available resources, and hold those responsible for negligence accountable.
The protest caused long traffic jams, disrupting commuters and office workers, while a few traffic police officers tried to redirect vehicles to maintain some flow. After about an hour, discussions with police led protesters to reopen the road.
The families of the missing children said that even after a year, they still looked forward to justice and the safe return of Aliyan and Ali Raza, their grief compounded by the perceived lack of urgency on the part of law enforcement.
