Rape-murder of minor: Protests erupt as victim laid to rest

Protesters demand public hanging of the accused

SAHIWAL: The situation in Chichawatni remained tense on Friday as people took to streets against the police for its failure to arrest the suspects involved in sexually assaulting and burning seven-year-old Noor Fatima alive.

The protesters burnt tyres and shouted slogans against the police and district administration.

Enraged protesters shouted slogans “Zaalimon! khoon ka hisaab do" as the girl's body was carried for funeral prayers. She was buried in a local graveyard.



They demanded that the government publicly hang the culprits and their patrons who were promoting such crimes.

Traders went on complete strike, while all business activities remained suspended. Educational institutions were also closed citywide with demonstrators demanding the culprits be brought to book at the earliest.

The second-grade student, a resident of Chichawatni, had gone missing on Sunday evening after she left home to buy some sweets. When she did not return after a while, her family members and neighbours started looking for her and found her in a street in an unconscious state with burns all over her body.



She was rushed to a local Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital from where she was referred to Jinnah Hospital in Lahore due to her critical condition.

Officials of Jinnah Hospital confirmed the victim had suffered 70% burn injuries and her chances of survival were grim.

However, samples taken during the autopsy of the victim have been sent to a laboratory for tests. Sahiwal District Police Officer Mohammad Atif Ikram told The Express Tribune that “Police have registered a case and arrested a suspect.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2018.