October 20, 2026
Staff Report
LAHORE
The killing of 15-year-old orphan Waseem Abbas in Multan has drawn strong condemnation from rights groups and officials, with Search for Justice (SFJ) and the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) Punjab demanding a thorough investigation and the strictest legal action.
Waseem, who lived in an orphanage and had been sent to an electrician to learn a trade, was allegedly chased and run over by his employer, Touqeer Zia, in an incident caught on CCTV. Police have registered a murder case, obtained a four-day physical remand of the suspect and say they will ensure a conviction, while lawyers allegedly assaulted the suspect during a court appearance.
In a statement, the SFJ appreciated the action taken by Multan Police in registering a murder case under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code and called for a thorough investigation and effective prosecution in accordance with the law.
“The killing of Waseem is deeply disturbing. Every child, regardless of their family circumstances or living arrangements, has an equal right to safety, dignity and protection from violence. His death demands a thorough investigation and accountability through due process of law,” said Rashida Qureshi, Programme Manager at Search for Justice.
The SFJ urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to take special notice of the case, consistent with her government’s stated commitment to protecting vulnerable people. SFJ stressed that the Punjab Government should treat this case as a test of that commitment and ensure sustained follow-up throughout the legal process. A fair and effective response would send a clear message that violence against children is unacceptable and that those found responsible will be held accountable under the law.
SFJ further urged the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC), the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Punjab to follow the case within their respective mandates, underscoring the importance of ensuring that children without parental care receive equal protection under the law and that their access to justice is not compromised by their circumstances.
Child Protection Bureau takes note of killing
In a separate statement, Child Protection & Welfare Bureau Punjab Chairperson MPA Sarah Ahmad strongly condemned the brutal killing of 15-year-old orphan Waseem Abbas in Multan, demanding the strictest possible legal action and the harshest punishment permissible under the law.
In line with the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the protection, safety, and safeguarding of children’s rights remain key priorities of the Government of Punjab.
She directed the CPWB Multan team to urgently follow up on the case and ensure justice for Waseem. She also called for a thorough investigation into the orphanage responsible for placing the child. Sarah Ahmad emphasized that no child is disposable and no act of cruelty against children will be tolerated.
Serves him right! But slaps in court are not enough. The brutal killing of 15-year-old Waseem, an orphan child, demands the strictest possible action under the law.
A man who allegedly chased a child in his car and crushed him to death simply because he asked for ONE DAY’S LEAVE must face the full force of the law. I demand the harshest punishment permissible under Pakistani law. It is an intentional murder.
I have directed the Child Protection & Welfare Bureau Multan team to urgently follow up on this case and ensure justice for Waseem. The orphanage responsible for placing this child must be thoroughly investigated, its licence revoked, and the institution sealed if violations and negligence are established.
Let this be a clear message: no child is disposable, and no act of cruelty against a child will be tolerated by the State. Our children deserve protection, dignity and justice — not violence and death.
https://t.co/aY6Ul3iVWf
— Sarah Ahmad (T.I.) (@SarahAhmad_CPWB) October 20, 2026
Suspect assaulted by lawyers
Lawyers in Multan assaulted a man accused of killing Waseem Abbas. The suspect was brought before a court for a hearing when lawyers attacked him, reportedly forcing police to intervene.
Police to file strong case, ensure conviction: CPO
Meanwhile, a court in Multan granted police a four-day physical remand of the suspect for further investigation.
Talking to media persons in Multan, City Police Officer Akhtar Farooq said his entire police force was saddened by the killing of the orphan boy, assuring that they would file a strong case against the suspect to bring him to justice. He said the police were conducting raids to arrest an accomplice in the case. The CPO said the police responded swiftly in the case and arrested him. “The police became a complainant in the case to prevent any compromise between the accused persons and family of the boy,” he added. The CPO said he was personally supervising the investigation and would ensure a conviction.