September 12, 2026
By Anwar Anjum
MINGORA
In Madyan Koza Kali, an area of Upper Swat, a father of six murdered his neighbor’s nine-year-old daughter after allegedly raping her. The victim, Ishmal, had been an orphan since her father’s death and was the youngest of five sisters and one brother.
The girl used to visit the accused’s house; he took advantage of this on Wednesday, allegedly sexually assaulting her before shooting her dead.
The victim’s uncle, Umar Gulab, described the incident to Voicepk, “The girl came home from school, changed her uniform, and went to the neighbor’s house. A little while later we heard gunshots. My other niece went over to look, and by then the girl had already been shot dead. When I reached the hospital, my niece’s body was lying there. The accused has committed a monstrous act, and he must be given the punishment he deserves. My niece was an orphan — her father passed away some years ago.”
According to Madyan police, the accused, Sultan Muhammad, allegedly took the girl to a nearby house, where she was first raped and then shot. SHO Aziz Khan described the police response:
“As soon as we were informed, I went to the scene with a police contingent and immediately began searching for the suspect. We then arrested Sultan Muhammad and formally registered an FIR for rape and murder. He was presented in court and a one-day physical remand was obtained; today the court has sent him to jail.”
The FIR against the accused was filed by his own sister. During the investigation, police also arrested the accused’s wife, Shameem, under Sections 200, 201, and 109.
A wave of intense anger swept across Swat following the incident. After Friday prayers, women and men from Madyan gathered in the main bazaar, chanting slogans and calling the act an injustice. It was the first time that women and children from the area came out onto the streets in such large numbers, blocking the Kalam-Mingora road to all traffic.
Protesters carried placards bearing various messages, while women chanted “give us justice” and demanded that the accused be publicly punished. Some women demanded that the accused be handed over to them so they could punish him themselves.
Lawyers, civil society members, political activists, and a large number of young people took part in the protest. Lawyers from Tehsil Bahrain announced they would not fight the accused’s case. “This is an extremely tragic incident. The accused should be made an example of, and given such a punishment that no one else can commit such a monstrous act again.
This is truly a horrific act — no amount of condemnation is enough. We condemn it in the strongest possible terms,” said social activist Dr. Anwar, who joined the protest.
Afterward, the protesters also marched toward the residence of MPA Mian Sharafat Ali, repeating their demand for severe punishment for the accused.
According to Child Protection data, 25 cases of child abuse have been reported in Swat during the first eight months of this year, reflecting the serious state of child safety in the region. The protest in Madyan is, in effect, an expression of the growing fear and sense of insecurity among residents — particularly women.
The accused currently remains in custody, and the case is under trial in court. Yet the question that continues to linger in residents’ minds is whether this innocent girl will truly receive justice, or whether this case, too, will be lost for years in court hearings.