GUJRAT: A suspect involved in the kidnapping and murder of a six-year-old boy was killed on Wednesday, allegedly in firing by his own accomplices at Chak Sabu, within the Saddar Pindi Bhattian police precincts.

Earlier, the body of the child was found in a field on April 28. A case had been registered on the complaint of the victim’s father, under charges of kidnapping and murder.

According to a Hafizabad district police official, initial investigations led to the identification of the suspect as 40-year-old Zafar Hashmat, a resident of Faisalabad who had recently been living in Pindi Bhattian and working as a labourer.

A police spokesperson said the suspect had allegedly confessed to abducting the child for sexual assault, murdering him, and dumping the body in nearby fields.

He said unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on the police party in an attempt to secure the suspect’s release. Police returned fire in self-defence. After the exchange of fire, the suspect was found dead at the scene. The attackers managed their escape.

Police have registered a case against the unidentified suspects for attacking the police.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026