Islamabad, May 27, 2024: The Wildlife Department in Islamabad made a somber discovery on Monday as they recovered the body of a missing teenage boy who had been hiking with friends on Margalla Hills Trail 5. According to sources cited by Geo News, the 15-year-old boy, identified as Taha, had gone missing on Saturday while on the trail. His mother filed a missing person’s report on Sunday, prompting an investigation into his disappearance.
Police sources revealed that the body was found in a ditch midway between Pir Sohawa and Bari Imam, a popular hiking route in the area. Taha’s uncle positively identified the body. Nearby, his belongings including a water bottle, mobile phone, and bag were discovered, though attempts to contact him were futile as his phone was switched off.
The discovery mobilized a response from various authorities including the Superintendent of Police (SP) city, assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Rescue 1122, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) officials, as well as Wildlife and Forest Department teams. Efforts are currently underway to retrieve Taha’s body from the ditch.
In a heart-wrenching plea to the media, Taha’s family revealed that he was their only son and had been missing since 2 pm on Saturday. They emphasized that Taha was not known to take risks and was given permission to hike only after persistent requests following his exams. The tragic turn of events has left the family devastated, raising questions about safety measures on popular hiking trails.
