August 25, 2026
By Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE
An 18-year-old youth from the Christian community allegedly fell into a canal and died after being subjected to violence by police personnel in the limits of Kahror Pakka police station in Punjab’s Lodhran district, according to an FIR registered on the complaint of his father and statements from local sources.
The deceased, identified as Daud Masih, was a 10th grade student. His father, Patras Masih, has accused police personnel Muhammad Khan and Aurangzeb, along with an unidentified person, of assaulting his son before he fell into the canal. A case has been registered against the three suspects at Saddar Kahror Pakka police station. However, police have not yet arrested any of the nominated suspects.
According to the FIR, the incident took place on August 22, when Daud was travelling on his motorcycle with his younger sisters. His father, along with two other people, was following him on another motorcycle.
The FIR states that when the group reached the Pul Jalion Wali area, they encountered police personnel identified as Muhammad Khan and Aurangzeb, along with another unidentified police official. According to the complainant, the officials stopped Daud and began searching for him.
The FIR further alleges that Daud resisted the search, following which the police personnel allegedly began assaulting him. The complainant alleged that one of the suspects kicked Daud in the stomach, causing him to fall into the canal.
According to the FIR, Daud’s family members and others accompanying him raised an alarm after he fell into the water, but the suspects allegedly fled the scene.
The FIR was initially registered under Section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relates to attempted murder. Following the recovery of Daud’s body, the case was subsequently amended to include Section 302, relating to murder, according to Lodhran police.
The deceased’s mother, speaking to local media, said that her son was 18 years old and studying in the tenth grade. She alleged that police officials pushed him into the canal and did not rescue him after he fell into the water.
“He was travelling on his motorcycle, and the police also took away his motorcycle,” she said, while appealing to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for justice.
The family has maintained that Daud died after being subjected to alleged police violence and called for action against those responsible.
According to Lodhran-based journalist Rana Asif, the police officials allegedly belonged to Kahror Pakka City police station and were standing at a checkpoint outside the jurisdiction of their own police station. He said that, according to eyewitness accounts, people present at the scene saw the police personnel allegedly assaulting Daud before he fell into the canal.
Rana Asif further said that Daud’s body was recovered approximately 28 hours after the incident. According to him, the body surfaced on its own and was spotted by local residents, who subsequently informed the relevant authorities.
The allegations have prompted the Lodhran police to initiate an investigation. Lodhran police spokesperson Muhammad Ramzan, while speaking to Voice PK, said that Lodhran District Police Officer Baneesh Fatima took notice of the incident after it came to light and constituted a team to investigate the case.The spokesperson confirmed that the FIR was initially registered under Section 324, but Section 302 was added after the recovery of Daud’s body.
Asked about the arrest of the nominated suspects, Ramzan said that the accused police personnel would be arrested soon.
The police have not, so far, announced the arrest of Muhammad Khan, Aurangzeb or the unidentified suspect named in the FIR.