MULTAN: A 15-year-old boy was allegedly run over and killed by his employer after fleeing his workplace following a dispute in a private housing society in Multan. Police arrested the main suspect, who was subsequently granted four days of physical remand by a judicial magistrate on Tuesday.
The victim, Waseem Abbas, had been living at an orphanage for five years and wanted to learn electrical work, according to Shoaib Haider, the orphanage’s general secretary. The institution had sent him to contractor Tauqeer Nazir six days before the incident to learn the trade.
The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) police station. Rescue officials said Waseem suffered severe head injuries and died at the scene. His body was shifted to Nishtar Hospital under police supervision for a post-mortem examination.
Police registered a case against Tauqeer Nazir and Amjad Ali. While Tauqeer was arrested, Amjad allegedly escaped and remained at large at the time of the report.
FIR Alleges Deliberate Killing
The first information report (FIR), registered on Monday, invoked Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to murder and acts committed by several people in furtherance of a common intention.
According to the FIR, Waseem’s cousin, Mukhtiar Ahmed, approached Sub-Inspector Liaquat Ali Bhatti and other police personnel while they were on patrol in Royal Orchard at around 4:35pm.
Mukhtiar allegedly told police that Waseem had been working as an electrician for the two suspects and had complained of violence and threats to his life.
The FIR stated that Waseem fled into a neighbouring street to escape the alleged abuse. The suspects allegedly pursued him in a Honda vehicle bearing registration number BVE-474.
Police said they saw the teenager running in fear while the vehicle followed him.
According to the complaint, the car struck Waseem, causing his head to hit a pillar at the entrance of house 3-A. He suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene.
Two residents, Saqlain Raza and Syed Naseem Abbas, were named as witnesses in the FIR. They reportedly told police that Waseem had passed by shortly before the incident, saying that the suspects wanted to kill him and that he was running to save his life.
The FIR further alleged that the vehicle stopped after the collision and the suspects attempted to flee. Tauqeer was apprehended at the scene, while Amjad escaped. Police seized the vehicle as evidence.
The allegations are subject to investigation, and the suspects’ guilt has not been established by a court.
Suspect Granted Four-Day Physical Remand
Tauqeer was presented before Judicial Magistrate Saadia Aslam on Tuesday. The court granted police four days of physical remand to investigate the case.
According to the report, lawyers assaulted the suspect outside the courtroom as he was being brought before the magistrate, despite the presence of police personnel.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances leading to Waseem’s death, including the alleged workplace dispute, witness accounts and available video footage.
Orphanage Says Boy Was Sent to Learn Electrical Work
Haider said the orphanage had sent Waseem to Tauqeer after making inquiries about the contractor, who reportedly had a team of around 40 to 45 boys working with him.
According to Haider, Tauqeer claimed that he had followed Waseem in his car after the teenager became tired while fleeing on foot. The suspect reportedly maintained that his vehicle had slipped.
Haider said video footage did not appear to support the explanation, although the evidence will need to be examined as part of the investigation.
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“It looks as though he was hit with the car,” Haider said, adding that the suspect would have to explain why Waseem had fled from him.
Haider said the orphanage had not previously received complaints about Tauqeer. Another boy from the institution had also been working for the contractor, but the orphanage brought him back after the incident.
Cousin Says Waseem Wanted to Return Home
Waseem’s cousin Nadeem, who had been living at the orphanage for six years, said the teenager had repeatedly expressed reluctance to work for the electrician.
According to Nadeem, Waseem had said he wanted to return home rather than continue learning the trade. Nadeem said he had never met Tauqeer and did not know him personally.
He added that Waseem had not returned to the orphanage after leaving to learn electrical work.
The circumstances surrounding the teenager’s decision to leave the workplace and the events that followed remain central to the investigation.
Family Demands Justice
Waseem’s funeral prayers were held at around 2am in Mouza Daulatpur, where he was buried in his ancestral graveyard. Close relatives and orphanage officials attended the funeral.
His uncle, Jafar Hussain, told the media that Waseem’s father had died nine years earlier. The boy was initially supported by his maternal grandfather before Hussain looked after him for two to three years. Waseem was later admitted to the orphanage by his grandfather and uncle.
“Tauqeer deliberately killed my nephew. I know what condition Waseem was in and how I saw him,” Hussain said, demanding justice for the teenager.
Waseem’s maternal grandfather said he had sent the boy to the orphanage because he wanted him to receive an education and avoid hardship on the streets. He also called for the suspect to be punished.
Residents said Waseem and his brother had been admitted to the orphanage after their mother remarried following their father’s death.
Police are investigating the allegations, while the family and orphanage officials have called for accountability over the teenager’s death.
