10 March 2005	Thursday	28 Muharram 1426

KARACHI, March 9: A six-year-old boy was badly beaten by his school principal in Malir on Wednesday. Mohammad Ashar, son of Mohammad Ashraf, and student of class one was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre by his father.

After examining the student, the doctors issued a medico-legal report according to which the boy was beaten with a hard and blunt object. Describing the history of the patient, the report said "assault by the school principal was alleged".

According to the father, he along with his wife had gone to the private school located near Malir Halt in connection with the issuance of a certificate. Mohammad Ashraf told the principal that Ashar had walked home instead of using the school transport, the other day. He advised the principal to be more careful about the students.

Meanwhile, the principal, Mr Siraj Shamsi, called the student and slapped him in front of the parents, upon which the father objected. However, the principal pacified him saying that the boy would be more careful in future by this treatment. The parents were advised to return home.

In the afternoon, when the boy reached home, his parents were horrified to see his condition with his back swelled because of a repeated lashing and beating. Mohammad Ashraf went to the Al Falah police station, lodged an entry into the daily dairy and obtained a letter for the medico-legal examination.