Eight-Year-Old Schoolboy Shot Dead in Vehari
An eight-year-old schoolboy was shot dead in Vehari district on Monday after he resisted an assault attempt, police said.
Muhammad Ali, a primary school student, had gone to a neighbouring house to drink water during recess in Rukanpur, within the Tibba Sultanpur police station jurisdiction near Mailsi. He was shot and killed on the spot. The killing triggered panic in the area.
What the police say happened
A heavy police contingent led by a DSP, along with Mailsi Assistant Commissioner Saad Bin Khalid, reached the scene after an emergency call. The boy’s body was shifted to Tibba Sultanpur hospital for a postmortem.
Vehari DPO’s PRO Adnan Tariq told Dawn that the nominated suspect, Ali Raza, attempted to sexually assault the boy, who put up strong resistance. The suspect was alone at his house when the boy entered to drink water. When the boy raised the alarm and people rushed to the house, Ali Raza opened fire and killed him before fleeing.
Tibba Sultanpur police registered a case under Sections 302 and 377 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the nominated suspect on the complaint of the victim’s father, Tassawar Abbas, who works as a driver.
Suspect at large, inquiry ordered
The suspect had not been arrested by Tuesday evening. DPO Vehari Tasawar Iqbal ordered raids at suspected hideouts, and police say teams are working to track him down and arrest him as soon as possible. The incident has raised questions about supervision during school hours. The boy had left the school premises during recess to fetch water from the neighbouring house — a routine errand that ended in tragedy. The inquiry committee includes both the male and female district education officers, signalling that the education department’s role is also under scrutiny.
DC Vehari Khalid Javed Goraya took serious notice and ordered an inquiry by a committee headed by Mailsi AC Saad Bin Khalid. The District Education Officer (male) Vehari and District Education Officer (female) Andleab Asghar are members. The committee has been asked to complete the inquiry at the earliest and identify any officials responsible for negligence, so that action can be taken against them.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in Vehari?
An eight-year-old schoolboy, Muhammad Ali, was shot dead on Monday in Rukanpur near Mailsi after he resisted an assault attempt at a neighbour’s house.
Has the suspect been arrested?
No. Police nominated Ali Raza in the case and DPO Vehari ordered raids at suspected hideouts, but he had not been caught by Tuesday evening.
What sections has the case been registered under?
Sections 302 and 377 of the Pakistan Penal Code, on the complaint of the victim’s father.
Is there an official inquiry?
Yes. DC Vehari formed a committee headed by the Mailsi assistant commissioner to complete an inquiry at the earliest and fix responsibility for any negligence.
Who is on the inquiry committee?
Mailsi Assistant Commissioner Saad Bin Khalid heads it. The District Education Officer (male) Vehari and District Education Officer (female) Andleab Asghar are its members.
