ISLAMABAD: An eight-year-old girl, whose body was found after going missing, was raped before being murdered, police said.

A case was registered with Sumbal police station in response to a complaint lodged by the girl’s grandfather against the unidentified person(s).

The girl, a native of Chiniot, had come to her grandfather’s house in Islamabad with her mother some five days ago, the police said, adding that she and her cousin left for a seminary in the evening of August 12.

Her cousin returned home, but she did not, they said, adding that announcements were made from worship places while her relatives searched for her till next morning but to no avail.

The complainant’s son got information in the early hours of Aug 13 that the girl’s body was lying at some distance of their house, following which they reached the spot and found the body lying on the grass.

After getting information, police reached the spot and shifted the body to a hospital for autopsy, police said, adding that apparently the girl was raped, tortured and later strangled.

Her grandfather in a complaint also stated that she was raped, tortured and then murdered, police said, adding that real facts would be ascertained after autopsy results are received.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2023