An eight-year-old schoolboy has allegedly been shot dead after resisting an attempted sexual assault in Rukanpur, near Mailsi in Vehari district, police have said.
Muhammad Ali, a primary school student, had reportedly gone to a neighbouring house on Monday to drink water during recess when the incident took place.
The killing caused panic in the area, prompting a heavy police contingent led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Mailsi Assistant Commissioner (AC) Saad Bin Khalid to reach the scene. Rescue officials shifted the boy’s body to Tibba Sultanpur Hospital for postmortem examination.
Vehari District Police Officer (DPO)’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Adnan Tariq, told a private media outlet that the nominated suspect, Ali Raza, allegedly tried to sexually assault the child while he was alone at home.
The boy resisted and raised the alarm, drawing people towards the house.
According to Tariq, the suspect then opened fire, killing Muhammad Ali at the scene before fleeing.
Tibba Sultanpur police registered a case against the suspect under Sections 302 and 377 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the boy’s father Tassawar Abbas who works as a driver.
Separately, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Vehari Khalid Javed Goraya ordered an inquiry into the killing and formed a committee led by AC Mailsi Saad Bin Khalid.
The committee includes Vehari District Education Officer (male) and District Education Officer (female) Andleab Asghar. The deputy commissioner directed the members to complete the inquiry promptly and identify any officials whose negligence contributed to the incident, so that action could be taken against them.
