LAHORE: A judicial magistrate on Tuesday granted a three-day physical remand of a man accused of killing an orphan boy by running his car over him in Royal Orchard, Multan.

The suspect, Tauqeer Nazir, was presented before the court by police, seeking a 14-day physical remand for investigation.

Judicial Magistrate Saadia Aslam, however, handed the suspect over to police on a three-day physical remand.

As the suspect was being taken to the police station, a large number of lawyers gathered outside the court. Some of the lawyers allegedly attacked and slapped the suspect to express their anger over the brutal killing of Waseem Abbas (15).

However, police managed to rescue the suspect and took him to the police station in a rickshaw.

Multan City Police Officer (CPO) Akhtar Farooq assured the victim’s family that a strong case would be made so that the perpetrators of the crime could be brought to justice.

He said that raids are being conducted for the arrest of a co-suspect in the case.

“We all are in deep pain,” the CPO said, adding that the orphan boy was subjected to barbarity.

“Police are complainant in the case, so that there could be no compromise between the two parties,” he added.

Police registered a murder case against Tauqeer Nazir and co-suspect Amjad Ali under sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the FIR, Waseem had been working as an apprentice electrician with the suspects. The victim’s cousin, Mukhtiar Ahmed, told police that the boy had allegedly been

facing violence and threats from the

suspects.

Fearing more torture, Waseem attempted to flee, but the suspects pursued him in a car and ran him over in a street. He died on the spot.

Police arrested Tauqeer on the spot, while Amjad managed to escape. The car being used by the suspects was impounded by the police.

Two residents of the housing scheme, where the incident had occurred, were named as witnesses in the FIR.

Waseem’s relatives say that after the death of his father, the boy was sent to an orphanage, from where the suspects employed him as an apprentice electrician.

The victim’s uncle, Jaafar Hussain, demanded justice, alleging that his nephew had been deliberately killed by the suspects.

Meanwhile, Search for Justice (SFJ) -- a civil society organisation working for protection of children against violence and abuse -- urged Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take notice of the incident and ensure accountability through legal process.

The organisation also called on the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, the National Commission for Human Rights and the Punjab Child Protection and Welfare Bureau to follow the case within their respective mandates.

SFJ Programme Manager Rashida Qureshi says the incident requires a thorough investigation and accountability under the law, stressing that every child is entitled to safety and protection against violence.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2026