Seven years later, mother discovers long-lost son begging on the street; information inside

In a touching turn of circumstances, Shaheen Akhtar, a Pakistani mother, and her son Mustakeem Khalid were happily reunited after a torturous seven years apart. According to Dawn, Akhtar saw Khalid begging on a Rawalpindi street on Tuesday, which led to the touching reunion.

The unanticipated breakthrough came when Akhtar got a call from one of her son’s friends, who subsequently supplied a picture showing Khalid among several beggars at Tahli Mohri Chowk in Rawalpindi. Her nephew, Akhtar, recognized her mentally challenged son, a former police officer, and they hurried to the scene.

As Akhtar got closer to Khalid, he saw the terrible scene: he was encircled by three ladies and two men who had forced him to beg on the street. The mother tried to hug her kid, but the beggars, who were reportedly members of a gang, not only refused but also physically abused and cursed at her.

Akhtar said that while Khalid was being held captive by the group of beggars, he had been subjected to torture and injections. The reunion marked the conclusion of a seven-year journey that started in 2016 when Khalid, a former police officer who had typhoid fever and became debilitated, vanished from sight. Khalid eluded searchers despite being reported missing to the local police station and being the subject of intensive searches.

Health problems forced Khalid, who got married in 2006, to give up his police profession. He would sometimes leave the house due to his mental health issues, only to come back a few days later. He did not, however, return in 2016, which upset his family.

The cops followed up on the reunion with vigor. Three ladies and the gang leader, Wahid, were taken into custody. To apprehend anyone connected to the event, further raids are being conducted.

Despite the difficulties, Akhtar conveyed her appreciation for the locals’ and her family’s unwavering support. “A large number of villagers and relatives have thronged my house, and everyone is happy and congratulating me on the reunion with my son,” she said.