They were kidnapped from their home in Pakistan three months ago
Daily Gulf News (Dubai); 5th November 2000
By Sunita Menon
DUBAI - Two young Pakistani boys have been rescued from Al Ain camel farm through swift action by Abu Dhabi police, and are now safely in police custody in Al Ain.
The boys, Shajar, aged six, and Shajawar, four, were kidnapped from their home in Dera Ghazi Khan in the North Western Province, Pakistan, three months ago.
They were brought illegally to the UAE, via Iran, by two unscrupulous agents named Gul Ahmed and Sharo Mai on forged passports and with false birth certificates. In the UAE, the boys were sold to a Pakistani agent for Dh20,000 each.
The use of young boys as camel jockeys is illegal in the UAE. They were banned in January 1993 by the Camel Race Association in accordance with the directions of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The regulations prohibit children from racing camels and state that all jockeys must weigh at least 45 kilograms in keeping with the international standards set for horse jockeys.
The kidnapping of the two boys came to light when their relatives lodged a complaint with the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International in Karachi.
Burney, who came to the UAE in search of the boys, told Gulf News that the family of the kidnapped boys told him that the boys' father was working in Dubai.
"We thought that it would be better to get in touch with the father and start our investigation by organising a hunt for the boys. They were spotted in Al Ain." Ansar Burney said.
"When we visited the camp we were not allowed to get anywhere near the boys by the camp supervisors who were mostly Asian. To overcome this problem, we got in touch with the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi who were quick in enlisting the support of General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Under-secretary at the Ministry of Interior." Burney added.
"The Abu Dhabi police responded positively by sending two police CID officers along with us to the camp. The boys were handed over to us without any further hassle from the camp authorities." Ansar Burney said.
A Pakistan Embassy spokesman said that once the legal formalities are completed in the UAE the boys will be repatriated to Pakistan.
Ghulam Rasool, the father, speaking to Gulf News, said he was unaware that his boys had been kidnapped and brought to UAE.
"The entire matter came to light when I called home to talk to my kids. I was shocked when my wife told me that the kids are with me. I was totally lost and had no idea where to search for them.
"When I spotted them in the camel camp in Al Ain I could not believe my eyes. They had become so weak and had severe injuries to their legs. I would love to return home with them but then I am the only earning member of the family." Said Rasool.
Six year old Shajar, who spoke to Gulf News, said that the kidnappers told him that he would be meeting his father in Dubai.
"But when I came here they started treating me badly. When ever I asked them about my father I was told to shut my mouth."
Shajawar is undergoing treatment for leg injuries at the Abu Dhabi government hospital.
The whereabouts of Gul Ahmed and Sharo Mai are not known. It is believed they are no longer in the UAE.
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