July 17, 2026
By Rehan Piracha
JHANG
A prayer leader from a village in District Jhang, has been arrested on charges of allegedly sexually abusing a 13-year-old student at a mosque located in Chak No. 263 JB.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the victim’s father, the accused sent other children home and then kept the victim behind, allegedly subjecting him to abuse. The Mochiwala police have registered a case, taking the accused into custody, with an investigation underway.
According to the complainant, who is the boy’s father, and a labourer by profession, while the accused served as imam (prayer leader) and Quran teacher at the seminary. The accused kept the complainant’s 13-to-14-year-old son back at the mosque’s chamber around 4 pm on July 12, under the pretext of Quran lessons. According to the FIR, after dismissing the other children, the imam told the boy to stay back for reciting his lesson. The complainant’s statement says the accused then locked the door of the chamber and threatened the boy. According to details recorded in the FIR, the child, out of fear, could not stop the assault, and the accused forced himself on him.
The complainant states that two local men, who were passing by, heard the commotion and rushed to the scene. They attempted to apprehend the accused, but he managed to flee. The complainant says the accused subsequently tried to plead for forgiveness, but the complainant instead sought legal action.
“It is requested that legal action be taken against the accused and that he be given appropriate punishment so that the complainant may receive justice,” the complainant requested in the FIR. The case was registered under Section 376(iii) (rape of minor ) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The suspect has been remanded in police custody for interrogation.
Nationwide concern, NCRC’s response
This incident comes amid growing nationwide concern over child protection. On July 9, the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) had called for strengthened protective measures for children with disabilities, following reports of alleged sexual abuse of disabled children in Bahawalpur. The commission acknowledged the swift action taken by law enforcement in registering that case, arresting the accused, and advancing the investigation, while also stressing the importance of accessible reporting mechanisms, timely intervention, and integrated support services to protect children with disabilities and prevent similar incidents.
In a statement issued on June 29, the NCRC said it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by reports of abuse, violence, and killings being reported across the country in recent weeks. The commission confirmed it had taken suo motu notice of 11 cases and had directed police authorities to conduct prompt investigations, apprehend perpetrators, and submit comprehensive reports, including FIRs. The commission stressed that these incidents point to a broader, systemic crisis requiring an evidence-based, child-centered, and comprehensive response.
The NCRC urged the federal and provincial governments, law enforcement agencies, and all relevant stakeholders to act decisively on three levels — structural, institutional, and socio-cultural — by reforming laws, strengthening child protection systems, and changing the social norms that allow such abuse to continue.
Call for oversight of seminaries
The commission has called for strict oversight of all institutions responsible for childcare — including madrassas, maktabs, and schools. In this regard, the following measures have been proposed including enforcement of mandatory child protection standards, staff vetting and screening against sex offender registries, registration of codes of conduct and monitoring of compliance, and establishment of clear and accessible reporting mechanisms.
The commission also emphasized nationwide implementation of family-based support and progressive de-institutionalization, alongside case management and referral systems for the timely identification of at-risk children.