Baghgad: The Embassy of Pakistan in Baghdad Thursday announced the safe recovery of three year old Sahib Ali, son of Mst. Suhagan Bibi, a resident of district Kashmore, who was abducted from the Bab Al-Sharji area near Saadoun Police Station on June 4, 2026.
According to a press release, immediately after the matter was reported, the embassy took it up on an urgent basis with the relevant Iraqi authorities.
The embassy maintained close and continuous coordination with the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, police, judicial authorities and other concerned security agencies. Several meetings were held to expedite the investigation and ensure the child’s safe recovery.
A major complication in pursuing the case was that the mother and the child were residing in Iraq without valid residency permits. Consequently, the competent court initially faced legal difficulties in authorising access to surveillance camera recordings from the area of the incident.
Such footage was essential for identifying the vehicle used in the abduction and tracing the alleged perpetrator.
Despite the challenges, the embassy continued its sustained diplomatic and legal engagement with the relevant Iraqi authorities. As a result of persistent follow up, the court eventually authorised access to the surveillance footage, enabling the security agencies to advance the investigation.
Following intensive investigative efforts, the Iraqi security agencies apprehended the accused Saifuddin, aged 50, from Baghdad, Al-Jadida area on 15 July.
The child was safely recovered from his custody on the same day. During the investigation, the accused reportedly confessed that he had abducted the child with the intention of exploiting him for begging.
On the morning of 16 July, Sahib Ali was formally handed over to his mother before the competent court in the presence of officials of the embassy of Pakistan. The child was found safe and was reunited with his mother after more than five weeks.