After 37 Years Missing, Man Reunites with Family Thanks to Facebook Video

On the morning of April 9, 1988, 14-year-old Aqeel Abbasi left home for his routine work at a glass shop on Murree Road in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. What began as an ordinary day soon took an extraordinary turn. During work, a glass pane slipped from his hands and shattered on the ground. The shop owner’s harsh reaction—both verbal and physical—devastated the young boy. In a moment of emotional distress, Aqeel ran away, unaware that this impulsive decision would separate him from his family for nearly four decades.

The very next day, the infamous Ojhri Camp explosions rocked Rawalpindi. Aqeel’s family, unable to find him, assumed the worst—that he had fallen victim to the blasts. Over the years, all efforts to trace him yielded no results.

Aqeel, meanwhile, was found crying outside the shop by a man from Charsadda, identified as Arbaz Khan (name changed). Arbaz took the boy under his wing, offering him food, shelter, and later, a new life. Aqeel refused to disclose his family’s details, and with time, he settled in Charsadda, learned a trade, got married, and became a father of four.

Originally from Beerot Jalyal in Abbottabad District, Aqeel had completely assimilated into his new life in Charsadda, forgetting even his mother tongue and childhood memories.

A decade ago, Aqeel began suffering from a neurological illness that impaired both his physical and mental functions. Ironically, the illness triggered faint memories of his past. With the help of two locals—Bilal Khan of Charsadda and Gul Muhammad from Peshawar—his story reached social media. Gul Muhammad posted a video of Aqeel on Facebook, seeking information about his origins.

Fate intervened. A user recognized Aqeel and connected him with his cousin Ansar Abbasi. After 37 long years, Aqeel was finally reunited with his family. Though he could no longer speak his childhood language and appeared visibly aged, the emotional moment of embracing his mother again was profound.

As his mother wept, she uttered the words: *“Today, the last prayer of my life has been answered.”*

Aqeel’s story is not just about loss and rediscovery—it is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the unseen bonds that time cannot break.