By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: A 14-year-old seminary student from Bahawalnagar has died after allegedly being subjected to severe physical abuse at a madrassa in Lahore’s Cantonment area, prompting police to register a murder case and launch a search for the accused.
A 14-year-old seminary student from Bahawalnagar has died after allegedly being tortured at a madrassa in Lahore’s Cantonment area, police said on Saturday. Authorities have registered a murder case against the accused and launched raids to arrest the suspect.
According to police, the victim, identified as Ali Haider, was allegedly subjected to physical abuse while studying at a madrassa in the Burki area of Lahore Cantonment. However, the alleged assault was not immediately reported to law enforcement.
Police said the child’s parents took him back to their hometown in Bahawalnagar, where they sought private medical treatment for his injuries instead of informing the authorities. Despite treatment, the teenager later succumbed to his injuries.
Following his death, the family contacted the Police Helpline 15 and informed officials about the alleged torture for the first time.
Upon receiving the complaint, a team from Burki Police travelled to Bahawalnagar to begin legal proceedings. Police halted the burial to complete mandatory legal formalities before shifting the body to a hospital for a post-mortem examination.
SP Cantt Akhtar Nawaz said the investigation would proceed based on the findings of the autopsy report and other evidence collected during the inquiry.
He confirmed that a murder case had been registered against the suspect, identified as Qari Ghulam Rasool, on the complaint of the deceased boy’s uncle.
Police teams are conducting raids at multiple locations to trace and arrest the suspect, while investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety and welfare of children studying in religious seminaries, with rights advocates calling for strict enforcement of child protection laws and accountability in cases involving abuse.
Authorities have stated that further legal action will be taken as the investigation progresses and forensic evidence becomes available.
