A boy who had sustained critical injuries after an alleged assault by a madrassa teacher in Karachi’s Aziz Brohi Goth locality of Manghopir has died, police said on Monday. The incident took place on November 30 last year.
Police initially registered a case related to the injuries and took the suspect teacher into custody. He was later released on bail. After the child’s death, police have said that the FIR (First Information Report) would be revised to include murder and other relevant legal sections.
Manghopir SHO (Station House Officer) Khushnawaz said the incident occurred on November 30, when six-year-old Hassan was allegedly assaulted by his madrassa teacher Qari Allah Bachayo. A case was lodged on the complaint of the child’s family, after which the Qari was arrested but subsequently secured bail.
The child remained hospitalised after the incident and was undergoing treatment at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where he died on Sunday. The SHO said Section 302 (murder), along with other applicable sections, would be incorporated into the FIR and that efforts were underway to re-arrest the suspect.
Hassan’s father Habibur Rehman has said that his son was studying at a madrassa in Aziz Brohi Goth when the teacher hit him on the head with a stick, resulting in a skull fracture. “We first took him to a nearby clinic, where X-rays revealed a crack in his skull. He was then shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and later referred to Jinnah Hospital’s children ward,” he said.
He said the accused teacher remained out on bail and sought justice. “My son would scream in pain during treatment. After his burial, we will pursue further legal action,” he added.
The victim’s uncle said the teacher had tried to justify the assault by claiming the child was being mischievous. “Children do mischief, but that does not mean you break a child’s skull with a stick. What kind of justice is this?” he asked, demanding strict punishment for the teacher to prevent similar incidents.