NAROWAL: TheSialkot police have registered an FIR against eight people who tortured and killed a 13-year-old boy for stealing a mobile phone.

Muhammad Amjad, of Bahawalpur, reported that his family, belonging to a nomadic background, has been living in Bhopalwala Stop, Sambarial, district Sialkot, for the past five to six years. He stated that his cousin, Shoaib Ahmed, worked as a cleaner at the Black Hall Snooker Club in the area.

On the night of Dec 19, Asad Ali Cheema, the club’s owner, and his accomplices allegedly kidnapped Shoaib. When Shoaib failed to return, Amjad and other family members went to the club, where they found Shoaib being brutally tortured with sticks, iron rods and punches by Cheema, Hamza Mir Butt and others.

The suspects claimed that Shoaib had stolen Hamza Mir’s mobile phone. Due to the severe violence, Shoaib’s condition deteriorated, and the attackers fled, leaving him injured. Shoaib died on the way to Daska Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

On Amjad’s complaint, Sambrial police registered an FIR against Asad, Hamza, Gohar, Asjad, Tahir and three unidentified people under sections 302, 147, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The victim’s family staged a protest, demanding the immediate arrest of all suspects. Police sources confirmed the arrest of two suspects.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2024