A seven-year-old girl who had been missing for five days was found dead on Sunday, her body stuffed inside a gunny bag and dumped near a water distributary in Baloch Mohalla, Jhalori, a small town in Shujabad taluka of Mirpurkhas district.
The horrific discovery has shaken the peaceful community, where residents took to the streets in protest shutting down markets and burning tyres to demand justice.
The victim was identified as Aamna, the daughter of local prayer leader Molana Ghulam Haider Kundrani, Inspector Inayat Zardari has confirmed.
Locals saw the body and reported it to the authorities, according to police. It was shifted to Civil Hospital Mirpurkhas, where the initial medical report confirmed physical and sexual assault.
Speaking to reporters, the heartbroken father said it was a routine morning when his daughter went to school, came home during the break, and returned for her second shift.
“Around 2pm or 2:30pm, one of her classmates dropped her bag at our house. We thought she was playing with friends after school,” he recalled.
By 4:30pm, when Aamna still hadn’t returned, her family and neighbours began searching the entire town.
Despite combing every alley and field, they found no trace of her. Kundrani said one neighbour later told him they had seen Aamna crying outside the school, saying someone was trying to kill her.
The grieving father accused the police of negligence and harassment.
“Instead of helping us find her, they subjected us to mental torture,” he alleged.
Molana Hafeezur Rehman, a prominent religious leader in Mirpurkhas, also held the police responsible for what he called “criminal negligence.”
“We all know such elements exist in society, but the police should have acted urgently. Their indifference cost a child’s life,” he said, warning that locals would continue protesting if action was not taken.
“Imagine the agony of a father who searched for his missing daughter for days only to find her lifeless body in a sack.”
In response to public outrage, Sindh Home Minister Mr. Zia ul Hassan Lanjar directed SSP Mirpurkhas to submit a detailed report and ensure a swift, transparent investigation. He also ordered regular updates on the case’s progress.
Provincial Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah separately contacted the SSP and expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy.
“This is a heartbreaking incident,” he said. “My heart goes out to the bereaved family, and we will ensure justice is served.”