The body of a nine-year-old boy who had been raped and then murdered was found in Karachi's Saeedabad area on Thursday, officials said.

The body of the boy, recovered in Saeedabad Sector-4, was shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for a post-mortem examination.

Additional Police Surgeon Dr Qarar Ahmed Abbasi told Dawn that the boy had been subjected to criminal assault before being strangulated to death. Torture marks were also present on different parts of his body, he said.

Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) West Younis Chandio told Dawn that the victim was a student at a local seminary. He went to the seminary on Tuesday, but did not return home, he added.

The family lodged his missing persons report at the Saeedabad police station on Thursday morning, which prompted the police to initiate a search and recover his body.

SSP Chandio said that this is the second such incident in the vicinity.

Three months ago, the body of another boy who was raped and murdered was found.

Earlier in September, the body of a sexually assaulted 10-year-old boy was found outside the City Courts.

The officer said he is leading a special investigation team, which also includes the superintendent police (SP) Baldia Town and SP Orangi Town, among other officers.

The police have some "clues" about suspects and have launched a manhunt to arrest them, he said.