PESHAWAR: Peshawar police on Saturday announced the arrest of an 18-year-old youth in the provincial capital's Bahana Mari area over the sexual abuse of a six-year-old girl.

The youth came under suspicion when his neighbours saw him take the girl into his residence on Wednesday, following which they raised a hue and cry and handed the youth over to the police.

Bahana Mari police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the youth on Friday and made his arrest public in a press conference today.

Station House Officer (SHO) Bahana Mari Wajid Ali Shah said the youth had confessed to abusing the minor. The SHO did not specify whether the girl was raped.

Police have opened an investigation into the matter and the accused will be presented in court for further proceedings.

Read more: Peon at private school in Islamabad held for attempted rape of minor

Three-year-old 'kidnapped' from hospital

A three-year-old child admitted to the Khyber Teaching Hospital is feared to have been kidnapped from within the institution's premises on Saturday, police suspect.

Sacha Khan Akbar brought the child to Peshawar for treatment from Kohat. The toddler was admitted to the nursery ward and went missing early Saturday morning.

An FIR on the incident was lodged at the local police station.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Omar Farooq confirmed that the child was brought to the hospital by Sacha Khan for treatment and went missing today.

CCTV footage acquired by police shows the suspect may be an unidentified woman. Police are investigating the incident.

Read more: Kidnap victim blames his ordeal on ‘girlfriend’

Opinion

Editorial

Exit strategy
Updated 18 Mar, 2026

Exit strategy

MOST members of the international community, particularly states in the greater Middle East, are gravely concerned...
Unsafe trains
18 Mar, 2026

Unsafe trains

SUNDAY’S accident involving the Shalimar Express has once again brought into sharp focus the deep structural and...
Disappointment in Dhaka
18 Mar, 2026

Disappointment in Dhaka

FOR a side looking for lift-off after a disappointing T20 World Cup, it was despair for Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ...
Missing in action
17 Mar, 2026

Missing in action

NOT exactly known for playing a proactive role in protecting the interests of Muslim nations and populations...
Risk to stability
Updated 17 Mar, 2026

Risk to stability

THE risks to Pakistan’s fragile economic recovery from the US-Israel war on Iran cannot be dismissed. Yet the...
Enrolment push
17 Mar, 2026

Enrolment push

THE federal government has embarked upon the welcome initiative to enrol 25,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad...