Quetta’s Maryam helps reunite minor girl with family
Asim Ahmed Khan
Maryam Syed, a young student was out in the evening, shopping at Quetta’s busiest Abdul Sattar Road when she spotted a minor girl roaming around alone. The minor girl seemed to be shattered since she was in search of her loved ones.
Despite strictly-veiled society and tribal taboos, Maryam took the risk to reach out to the child. The minor was alone and without her family. She tried to calm the child, asking her to tell about the family, but the little girl could not even speak and kept on crying.
As she realized that the girl is lost, Maryam decided to take responsibility. “With the current situation, I had to do something to protect the child, until she finds her family back,” Maryam said. She said that she kept looking around, waited for a long time, in hope of finding her heirs, but did not succeed, as no one recognized the child.
In Balochistan, incidents of child abuse, kidnapping, and harassment appear to be on a constant rise recently.
“Then I decided to bring the child home,” Maryam told. Later at night, Maryam uploaded a video on Social Media platforms, seeking help from the users to find the relatives of the child. “I recorded the video while hoping that child’s family members might see the video and thankfully people extended great support,” she added.
The response was enthusiastic, many social media activists, groups shared the video on different platforms for maximum reach. Maryam’s effort turned successful, later on, the same night, family members after watching the video, reached out to her and had their little girl Umme-Hani back home.
While thanking people for their support, Maryam had to face trolls, unwanted texts from the people, as she had shared her contact number, so that her family could easily reach out to her. “Despite knowing, I could face such a situation, I had decided to share the video,” she said.
“Child’s father told that mother of the child and other relatives who were in the market for wedding shopping, forgot the child somewhere,” she told. “The child was rejoiced after reuniting with the family, same as her family, who was relieved to get their little girl back unharmed,” Maryam told while narrating the incident.
Asim Ahmed Khan is a Quetta based journalist. He remained associated with DawnNews, SAMAA TV, 92 Newspaper and is currently contributing to Voicepk.net, TCM and other digital platforms.
Priceless efforts from voluntary woman, who has given us lesson that still there is a humanity in beloved Balochistan.