Gatekeeper at Karachi school taken into custody after child alleges sexual assault

E-Paper | December 05, 2025

Footage showing residents vandalising the school in anger over the allegations levelled against the schools' gatekeeper.

A gatekeeper at a school in Karachi's Ibrahim Hyderi area was taken into custody on Friday after a three-year-old girl in the area levelled allegations of sexual assault against him, DawnNews reported.

Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Malir Rao Anwar said the gatekeeper had allegedly attempted to assault the child yesterday, after which she went home and told her parents.

According to her parents, he said, the child had a fever and they took her to the hospital.

The girl and her mother stand in front of the school. ─ DawnNews

The SSP said that the girl's mother today went to the school to confront the gatekeeper. The ensuing racket alerted area residents of what was happening, and they caught and beat the gatekeeper before handing him over to the Rangers.

He was then shifted to a police station, the SSP said, adding that medical tests were conducted on both the girl and the gatekeeper.

In the aftermath of the encounter, television footage showed enraged residents storming the school and vandalising hallways and displays in protest against the gatekeeper's alleged actions.

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Siyal and provincial police chief, AD Khawaja, took notice of media reports of the incident and ordered the submission of detailed inquiry reports on the matter.

The latest incident comes in the wake of widespread outrage and demonstrations across the country protesting against the suspected rape and murder of 6-year-old Zainab Amin in Kasur, whose body was recovered from a trash heap in the city earlier this week.

Violence against children

Pakistan

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Imran

Jan 12, 2018 12:35pm

What do they plan to achieve by destroying a school?

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Haider

Jan 12, 2018 12:38pm

Very sad incident but so good to see a brave mother who confronted the abuser and made sure he is arrested. She saved other children from possible abuse in future and also alerted people to the situation.

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random

Jan 12, 2018 12:59pm

Such untoward instances could be avoided if in nursery schools, all staff should be females. Where male staff is necessary he must be accompanied by a female ward.

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Abu Khalid Yousafzai

Jan 12, 2018 01:46pm

do not forgive the culprit

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Truth

Jan 12, 2018 01:55pm

@random, removing males from places would not solve the issue. From how many places would you remove the males?

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Random

Jan 12, 2018 01:58pm

So when will the results of medico legal reports be out? Will they be shared too? Unless then its barely determined that the man has assaulted the child. Cant v wait till the result to break such news. How long do these tests need to be confirmed? Its fortunate that the sampling was done in time. Please write about how to make sure the culprit cant get away with such a crime. Plz do these stories on centre spreads like awareness for dengue and polio was dissem8nated. Ngos should take this up and print and distribute material at doorsteps. Awareness is the best weapon where autjorities faill.

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Philosopher (from Japan)

Jan 12, 2018 02:20pm

What’s happening around us? Where are we heading???

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Hawala

Jan 12, 2018 02:24pm

"In the aftermath of the encounter, television footage showed enraged residents storming the school and vandalising hallways and displays in protest against the gatekeeper's alleged actions" May i ask Why?

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ali ahmed

Jan 12, 2018 03:46pm

This is individual,why they are destroying school

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kamran

Jan 12, 2018 04:05pm

it is responsibility of the schools administration to check before hire them on security and gate keeper position, must check their family background and past working experience because these people are habitual, also find why they have leave the previous job are they fire due to involvement of this type of incident in past.

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Sarfraz

Jan 12, 2018 04:17pm

Was school administration sleeping? The school administration should also be questioned!

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M Malik

Jan 12, 2018 04:40pm

where on earth is rule of law in Pakistan, how come these people are able to come and vandalize property like this without any fear of repercussions.?

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Syed Zafar Kazmi U.S.A

Jan 12, 2018 05:57pm

While the incident is one of the so many similar very tragic incidents happening all around the country like there is an epidemic & must be penalized to the maximum, the lawlessness of the vandals must also be taken into account and they all must be accosted and punished for senselessly destroying the school property.

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Zubaida Khan

Jan 12, 2018 06:35pm

@random In case you don't know a lot of the abuse is carried out by female staff. Gender bias does not exist among criminals.

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teacher

Jan 12, 2018 07:17pm

@random im sorry to say but females can also be sexual abusers and it's much harder to recognise them as a culprit. it was the child's bravery that she told her mother and i applaud the parents, teachers and anyone else who taught her to do so.

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sanaullah aman

Jan 12, 2018 11:09pm

such untoward only avoided by induction of educated staff in schools.

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ABDUL MUQTADIR

Jan 12, 2018 11:18pm

@Imran That's how the illiterate public acts. Any action by US, Denmark Cartoons or else, the public comes out and burn houses and cars, shut down businesses or break shops, block roads and bun tires. Thus they cause more losses financially and injuries or take lives.

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Gul Hasan

Jan 12, 2018 11:42pm

It will be advisable that Fed and all four provincial governments create a database where these child molesters pedophiles record are kept for tracking them and their whereabouts. Very important to cover their activities, in the West some of them are made to wear braces so they are tracked electronically all the time.

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kdp

Jan 13, 2018 01:39am

How can 3 years old complain or understand?

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Adil Jadoon

Jan 13, 2018 02:28am

@Imran Good question...more illiterate gate keepers.

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Adil Jadoon

Jan 13, 2018 02:29am

What was a 3 year old child doing in school anyway.......There is a reason children are not sent to school before they can communicate.

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Yawar

Jan 13, 2018 04:31am

Why wern't those vandalizing the school arrested. The gatekeeper should pay for the crimes he committed and the vandals should pay for the property they destroyed. Please let not this become the norm.

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Farouq Omaro

Jan 13, 2018 06:42am

Why destroy school facilities because of gatekeeper's actions?? Shows uncivilised mentality.

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