More than 5,000 missing children recovered under Zainab Alert law, IHC told

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jul, 2026) More than 5,000 children have been recovered since the implementation of the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act, the director general of the authority established under the law told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday.

The disclosure came during a hearing before Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir in a case examining the impact of social media use by children under the age of 16.

Director General Abdul Sattar informed the court that a detailed report had been submitted, saying some of the recovered children had run away from home while others had been abducted. He added that in cases involving the abduction of children from Islamabad, the authority coordinates with Islamabad police to recover them.

Justice Tahir expressed dissatisfaction with the report, questioning whether the official had simply circulated the court's questionnaire and compiled responses.

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"The entire world is working on this issue. What are you doing?" the judge remarked, adding that the report failed to address the court's key questions.

The court also asked whether the authority's role extended beyond collecting data to actively protecting and recovering children.

In response, Abdul Sattar said the authority not only recovers missing children but also arranges medical examinations and psychological treatment where required. He said more than 5,000 children had been recovered since the law came into force.

Justice Tahir further inquired whether the authority participates in criminal cases arising from child abductions, including the registration of first information reports and subsequent legal proceedings.

The court directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to submit its response and adjourned further proceedings until Sept. 7.