Panama: What's *Really* Happening, From the Canal to the Controversies

Alright, let's dive into this steaming pile of… something. A Canadian man, Ghussan Iqbal, and his two kids went missing in Panama back in May. Six months later, one kid's dead, and the other two are still MIA. And the family's justifiably losing it because nobody seems to give a damn.

The Disappearance

So, Iqbal and his two young children, Musa and Nousaybah, vanished from their place in Panama. Vanished. Like, poof. The dude didn't take his wallet, phone, or even food. That’s strike one against the "ran away" theory right there.

Weeks later, they find Musa's body in a river. Grim. Real grim. And now the search for the dad and daughter "continues without rest," according to Panamanian authorities. But actions speak louder than words, right?

Iqbal’s brother and his wife, Sulman and Nagham, went down to Panama to help with the search. They hired a lawyer, the whole nine yards. But get this: they say the Canadian government, Global Affairs Canada, has been basically useless. "We can only communicate with them through email and it takes days to respond. We don’t even reach out anymore because it’s not useful." Seriously?

"It’s honestly very scary knowing that as a Canadian citizen you’re basically out of luck if something happens to you abroad," Sulman said. Ain't that the truth. You'd think a missing person case involving a child would light a fire under someone's ass, but apparently not.

Theories and Inconsistencies

Here's where it gets even weirder. The family was told that Ghussan “ran away” to the river with his kids because of mental health issues. But the brother says he talked to Ghussan just days before and saw no signs of anything wrong. Two days later, BAM, gone.

Nagham said the “sequence of events kind of unravelled once we arrived there.” No surveillance footage of Ghussan leaving with the kids. "(Ghussan and his children) literally disappeared off the face of the earth.”

And get this – baby Musa was found exactly where Ghussan’s wife said he would be. Foul play? Seems likely.

The wife apparently wasn't exactly on the level either. Multiple identities, lies about her background, and inconsistent stories. Sounds like a damn soap opera, doesn't it?

Oh, and to make matters worse, violent protests broke out in the area shortly after the Iqbals left Panama. So, yeah, just another layer of chaos on top of an already messed-up situation.

Bureaucracy and Broken Promises

The family is understandably pissed. They feel like there's "no sense of urgency" and "no thorough investigation." Bureaucracy and delays are unending, especially when it comes to getting forensic test results. It's like trying to pull teeth from a goddamn shark.

Sulman: “Nothing was adding up to us then and it’s still not adding up. … Literally any theory is possible at this point. We have no idea what happened, no proper leads.”

They’re holding out hope, of course. But as Nagham said, “If they’re alive, they’re not living in a dignified way.”

And Global Affairs Canada? They released a canned statement about the safety and security of Canadians abroad being a “top priority.” Give me a break. If it was a top priority, maybe they'd actually, you know, do something.

Is Anyone Even Trying?

This whole situation stinks. It's like watching a slow-motion train wreck, except the train is a family, and the wreck is a combination of indifference, bureaucracy, and maybe something far more sinister. But are we surprised? I mean, really?

Apathy is the Real Crime

So, what's the takeaway here? A family is torn apart, a child is dead, and two more are missing. And the response from the people who are supposed to help is…crickets. It's a damn tragedy, and it makes you wonder what the hell is wrong with the world.