July 22, 2025
By Kaleem Ullah
LAHORE
In a horrific incident of corporal punishment that emerged on Tuesday, a 14-year-old child, Farhan, was beaten to death allegedly by his madrassah teacher, Qari Muhammad Umar, and Umar’s son, Ihsan Ullah, in the Chalyar area of Khwazakhela Tehsil, Swat. The video of the injured boy’s body – full of red and purple bruises on his back from angry lashes, was seen on social media.
According to Farhan’s grandfather, the boy had been reluctant to attend the madrassah, claiming that ‘they beat him and demand that he engage with them in a sexual relationship’.
But when his uncle told Farhan’s father about the boy’s refusal to continue going to the madrassah, his father waived aside the allegations and insisted that he be sent back. Next time, Farhan’s uncle escorted him to the madrassah and told the Qari not to punish Farhan for his absence, as he had been attending a relative’s wedding. The Qari seemed to have complied, but as soon as his uncle left, subjected Farhan to a brutal beating—so, severe that, apart from his face, not a single part of his body was spared.
Overwhelmed with grief, Farhan’s grandfather lamented, “It would have been easier if my child had been killed by a bullet rather than enduring this torture. He must have begged and pleaded with his teachers to spare him, but they showed no mercy.”
A fellow student who witnessed the incident recounted, “Around 2 PM, one of the teachers cornered Farhan in a room and beat him with a stick until it broke. Then, Qari Muhammad Umar entered, locked the door, and whipped him relentlessly until he grew tired. Farhan collapsed as his body gave out. He asked for water, drank it, shook his head three times, and died in my lap.”
Outrage and Protests
Following the incident, residents of Khwazakhela took to the streets, demanding justice for Farhan. The community is furious over the brutality inflicted on the child.
Dr. Amjad Ali Khan, the elected Member of the National Assembly from Swat, visited the madrassa and spoke with locals and students.
“With great sorrow, I must say this was not a madrassa but a torture cell,” he said. “There was a designated punishment room with chains hanging from the ceiling, along with bundles of leather whips, plastic pipes, and sticks. Every child bore visible wounds from beatings. This madrassah will be sealed, and we will make an example of this case. All unregistered madrassahs in the tehsil will be shut down. Any institution that subjects our children to such violence cannot claim to follow the teachings of our beloved Prophet (PBUH).”
Legal Action and Arrests
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the three accused, including the madrassah principal, under Section 302 (premeditated murder) and Section 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 37 (punishment for violence) of the Child Protection Act (CPA).
Police confirmed that one suspect, Abdullah, has been arrested, while efforts are underway to apprehend Qari Muhammad Umar and his son, Ihsan Ullah.
Meanwhile, protests continue at Matta Chowk in Swat, and the madrassah has been sealed.
Corporal punishment in madrassahs: A systemic issue
A study titled “Corporal Punishment and Its Impact on Juvenile Delinquency among Madrassa and School Students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan” highlights that physical punishment remains deeply entrenched in many Pakistani madrassahs, often justified as discipline. However, research shows that 83% of madrassah students report experiencing physical abuse, including beatings with sticks, slaps, forced standing for hours, and food deprivation.
The study warns that such violence leads to increased aggression, emotional trauma, and juvenile delinquency, turning these institutions into environments where fatal abuse is not an anomaly but the tragic result of systemic cruelty.
Lack of regulation and accountability
In May 2024, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority banned corporal punishment in private schools following complaints. However, violations persist. According to the KP Child Protection and Welfare Commission (KPCPWC), children in the province endure 33 different forms of abuse, including 14 reported cases of corporal punishment.
Lehaz Ali, a Peshawar-based journalist, told Voicepk that no official data exists on madrassas, their curricula, or abuse cases. “Most madrassahs are unregistered, requiring no No-Objection Certificate (NOC) or formal approval. When abuse occurs, disputes are often settled through jirgas (tribal councils) rather than the formal justice system. Even police hesitate to intervene due to the religious sensitivity surrounding these cases.”
Ali compared the unchecked violence in madrassahs to Abu Ghraib prison, infamous for the torture of detainees during the Iraq War.
“There is no oversight. A Pashto proverb sums up the mentality: ‘Khar raghaly o os insaan di’—meaning, ‘He came as a donkey, and we turned him into a civilized human.’ This reflects the brutal ‘discipline’ enforced in these places.”
KP based right activist Imran Takkar also spoke to Voicepk about the gravity of the issue.
“Corporal punishment is a harsh reality that many children face, leaving them with physical and emotional scars. As a society, we must recognize the devastating impact it has on their young minds and take collective action to create a safe and nurturing environment.