BAHAWALNAGAR: A rapist-cum-murder of a minor girl was sentenced to death on five counts on Thursday by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge.

Azhar, of Bahawalnagar, had raped and murdered a seven-year-old girl on Aug 3, 2019.

Bahawalnagar District Police Officer (DPO) Quddus Baig told a press conference that the minor of village Thengi Baluchan, Chishtian, went to a madressah and did not return. He said after a search, her body was found in the fields. He said an FIR was registered against unidentified culprits at the Shehar Fareed police station.

The police questioned seminary students, residents of the area and dozens of other people. The police collected DNA samples of 29 individuals for a test but nothing could be found.

The police continued efforts and later arrested 24-year-old Azhar Machi on suspicion. He said the man was a resident of a nearby village and his DNA sample matched.The convict told the police the girl was going home alone when he abducted her and took her to nearby fields. He said after raping her, he choked her to death with her dupatta.

The DPO announced cash and certificates for policemen who arrested and investigated the culprit.

The girl’s father expressed a sigh of relief at the sentencing of his daughter’s rapist and killer while the mother demanded that the execution be carried out publicly.

“I want the rapist to be hanged where he killed my daughter,” the mother demanded.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2021