MUZAFFARGARH: A seminary student was found murdered under mysterious circumstances whereas the family nominated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA Aurangzeb, his son and a nephew and accused the police of removing the evidence and declaring it a firecracker explosion.

Reports said Saim was killed by a pistol bullet and it was confirmed by doctors after medical examination on Tuesday night but police claimed that the boy having a firecracker in his hand died when it exploded.

Sources said Forensic Science Agency and other officials collected evidence and shifted the body to Chowk Sarwar Shaheed rural health centre. As per the autopsy, the boy did not die of firecracker explosion but he was killed by a bullet.

The family and local traders staged a protest by placing the body on the road against police move to dub the incident a cracker blast.

DPO Hasnain Haider suspended from service SHO Kamran Saif.

Chowk Sarwar Shaheed police have registered a case against 11 people, including MPA Rana Aurangzeb, his son Ali Zaib, Rana Jahanzaib, Ashraf, Qari Yusuf, Fakhar Mulk, Maaz Jahanzaib, Jahanzaib Ashraf, Junaid Ashraf and three others.

Complainant Naveed in the FIR said his nephew Saim went to Madressah Jamia Fakhria for Zuhr prayers but did not come back. He said he with his friend went there and found Saim dead. In another development, a video statement appeared to save the seminary teacher and his son. In the video statement, a young man was threatening the people of the area with a gun in his hand and the man in the video has been identified as Imran Pathan, who said if any one nominated the teacher and his son he would be killed.

A police spokesperson said raids were being conducted to arrest the youth. He said it would be investigated whether the video was before or after the murder. He said police were investigating the relationship of the youth in the video with the suspect nominated in the FIR.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2024