Police arrest seminary teacher accused of beating student

The 10-year-old boy was beaten up severely for missing a class the day before

KARACHI: Police have arrested a seminary teacher accused of beating up a 10-year-old boy at Madrassah Usmania in Ali Akbar Goth of District Malir.

According to the accused, Muhammad Niaz, 10-year-old seminary student Ahmed Raza was severely beaten up on Thursday because he lost temper when the student told him that he could not attend the seminary classes the day before because he was fasting.



Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja took notice of the incident and ordered District Malir SSP Rao Anwar to take action against the teacher. The boy was released after receiving first aid at the National Institute of Child Health where doctors confirmed that he was severely beaten up with a stick.



Ahmed used to live in the same area and had been studying at the seminary for a couple of years but this incident, according to the family, occurred for the first time. The family thanked the media and police for highlighting the issue and helping them get justice. "We are thankful for all who helped us," said the boy's maternal uncle, Hakeem.

The police said that they have arrested the teacher and also registered an FIR against him under sections 342 and 337 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which refers to beating and misuse of power.  The police officials said that the teacher in his statement told the police that he regretted the beating and the incident occurred unintentionally. DSP Rao Iqbal said that the case has been registered while the accused is in police custody on remand and the police's investigation wing is currently investigating the case.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2016.