'Child kidnappings' alert spread on social media is a hoax: DG Rangers

In a statement issued here, Maj Akbar said police and Rangers were active for protection of citizens, hence any such rumours should not be given any credence.

He clarified that law enforcement agencies had not issued any statement asking parents to confine children inside homes in view of abduction threats.

He said such hoaxes are only meant to spread terror in Karachi.

The DG Rangers also appealed citizens to identify elements spreading such rumours across the city so they could be dealt according to law.

News of children’s kidnappings in Karachi, followed by Lahore, caused panic among the citizens and stirred up a debate on the social media.

Text messages are also being circulated on cellphones warning of imminent threat of an unidentified group involved in child kidnappings.

Several media channels also aired the news of such threats, but no police high-up confirmed veracity of the reports.