A boy in Muzaffargarh was handed over to police on four-day physical remand on Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl a week ago.

According to a first information report registered by the girl's father on April 16, his wife had sent their daughter to a nearby store to buy vegetables around 4pm.

After some time passed, she became concerned when their daughter did not return. The man said that as he returned home from work, his daughter appeared, crying, and fell to the ground unconscious.

The FIR said that he noticed she had blood stains on her clothes and he called for help, after which a few witnesses appeared and helped him revive the girl. When she regained consciousness, she told them that the vegetable shop had been closed when she approached it. The suspect, who ─ the FIR claimed was 13-14-years-old ─ was in the vicinity, told her he would give her toffees if she came with him.

The FIR said that the girl alleged the suspect had taken her to an empty plot nearby and assaulted her. When she began crying, he ran away. Upon hearing all this, the father said, they all went into shock and then approached the suspect's home and complained to his parents.

The father of the victim appealed to police to register a case against the suspect, arrest him and ensure justice is served.

City Station House Officer Farooq Afaq confirmed the arrest of the suspect, and said that a local court had granted police four-day physical remand of the boy yesterday.

He added that a medical examination had confirmed the girl had been sexually assaulted. The court had ordered that suspect's age be ascertained, after which tests are being conducted to determine his age.