One more mystery: Another child turns up dead in Yousafabad

Saifullah’s mother believes he accidentally tied rope around his neck

PESHAWAR: Another child died under mysterious circumstances in Yousafabad within the jurisdiction of Paharipura police station in city.

On Tuesday evening, nine-year-old Saifullah was found with a rope around his neck on the roof of his house in Yousafabad. He was taken to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) where he died.

Although the boy’s family members said it was an accidental death, doctors at LRH were not convinced by this explanation and immediately informed the police. Police has decided that an autopsy must be conducted as the incident raised suspicions.

Faqirabad ASP Wasim Riaz told The Express Tribune the child was playing on the roof of his three-storey house, while his mother and brother were on the ground floor.



“The mother found Saifullah unconscious on the roof with a rope wrapped tightly around his neck,” he said. “But the boy was breathing – he was rushed to LRH.”

The ASP said Saifullah’s mother said he was playing with the rope and accidentally strangled himself after he tied it around his neck.

“Doctors told us that the boy has been tortured and then strangled to death while the family members think otherwise,” the ASP said. “In this situation, an autopsy is the best way out to confirm the reasons of death.”

This is the eleventh such case in the district since April 2015. However, Saifullah’s case is slightly different as he did not go missing.

Raising alarm

Speaking to The Express Tribune, rights activist Rakhshanda Naz said it was unfortunate that the state had failed to fulfil its responsibility in Pakistan.

“In the west, if you can’t keep your children well protected, the state would take them away from you,” she said. “Unfortunately, there is no such protection system for the elderly or children.”

The activist added such mysterious deaths should be properly investigated because Saifullah is not the first child in this manner.

Another child rights activist Arshad Mahmood said these mysterious deaths were indeed a warning for the K-P government to introduce an effective child protection system in the province.

“Saifullah’s case proves how vital the role of the community as a whole can be,” he said. “Our focus should primarily be on prevention.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2016.