Karachi: A highly emotional moment unfolded on a popular private news channel’s program when Muhammad Asif, who was abducted in 1992 at the age of two, was reunited with his biological parents after 32 long years.
The show’s host described the reunion as “the most joyful moment” of his career. He revealed that Muhammad Asif, whose real name is Muhammad Siddiq, was kidnapped from Bari Imam, Islamabad. The kidnappers changed his name and kept his true identity hidden for decades.
Asif recounted that he was abducted by a woman who had three brothers and a mother. She eventually left him in Jhanoria village near Sargodha, before relocating to Rawalpindi. According to Asif, villagers had doubts about the kidnapped children, as their appearance didn’t match their supposed families. Later, the group shifted from Jhanoria to Tehsil Bhalwal, where Asif — at just nine years old — returned to Jhanoria alone and sought refuge with a lawyer.
The lawyer took him in like a son, tried to educate him, but Asif chose to become an electrician. In 2017, he bought his own home and got married.
He shared that one day, while at a jeweler’s shop, he met a man with whom he spoke about his desire to find his real parents. This contact eventually connected him to renowned social worker Waliullah Maroof, who asked for personal details and identifying features. With this information, he was able to locate Asif’s biological family.
During the emotional reunion, Asif’s parents revealed that they spent each day grieving and praying for their son’s return. Their unwavering faith kept hope alive for more than three decades.
Journalist Saleem Safi, who hosted the show “Jirga”, said the meeting took place in his office and he was proud that his platform helped make this historic and deeply touching reunion possible.
Waliullah Maroof mentioned that in such cases, he uses social media videos to connect missing persons with their families, and this case was a rare success story.
It is worth noting that Muhammad Asif was kidnapped from Bari Imam, Islamabad in 1992, at just two years old, and lived apart from his real family for 32 years. His remarkable story is a testament to the fact that hope and determination are never in vain, and that modern tools like social media are now powerful bridges for reuniting lost loved ones.
For complete coverage in Urdu, visit News Alert Urdu
