PESHAWAR: Badhber police arrested a cleric on charges of assaulting two minors in Telaband area on the outskirts of the provincial capital on Wednesday.

Father of one of the minors told Badhber police that his nine-year-old daughter and 11-year-old nephew were enrolled in a seminary in Telaband area.

He got registered an FIR, stating that on March 3, the children informed them that the prayer leader had assaulted them multiple times four days before Ramazan.

He said they could not immediately share this with their parents since they feared punishment.

He informed the police that he inquired from both the minors who shared all the details. Later, he brought both the children to the police station and filed a case against the prayer leader.

A case was lodged against the prayer leader under sections 376, 377 and 511 of Pakistan Penal Code, and sections 43 and 53 of Child Protection and Welfare Act, 2010.

The police have arrested the accused.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2025