‘Overcome with guilt’: Cleric stabs seven-year-old student
Five days after slaughtering a seven-year-old boy, the cleric of a mosque, situated in Joharabad, confessed to his horrific crime.
Saying he was overcome with guilt, Manzoor Sheikh told the police he had brutally murdered his student, grade two student Bilal Mughal, because he had developed some issues with Bilal’s father, Aslam Mughal, who was working as the finance secretary at the same seminary.
Sheikh told authorities he was infuriated with Aslam’s constant interference in the seminary’s affairs, and in a moment of weakness, took it out on his son.
Narrating the account, Sheikh said, Bilal showed up at the mosque with his uncle before Isha prayers on Friday and stayed back after saying his prayers.
Using that opportunity, Sheikh took the boy up to the roof, where construction was underway, and stabbed him with a blunt object.
When the seven-year-old’s parents noticed their child was missing, they set out to search for the boy, and found him critically wounded on the roof of the seminary. Bilal succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
Upon receiving complaints from residents, police arrested Sheikh on suspicion. He later confessed to the crime, saying his only motive was to settle a dispute with the boy’s father.
According to Aslam, Bilal would often serve Sheikh his meals thrice a day. “He killed my son! I want the government to publicly announce the death penalty for him!” said the grief-stricken father.
After the tragic admission, Sheikh’s wife termed his act “a heinous crime”, saying there was no way she would ever live with a man like him.
Sheikh was brought before the media on Tuesday outside the District Police Office where he admitted that he had killed the boy to get back at Aslam. During the briefing, Sanghar SSP Abdullah Shaikh told the media that a case would be lodged against the accused in the anti-terrorism court. People gathered at the briefing demanded that people like Sheikh be hanged publicly.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2011.
COMMENTS (17)
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The child's innocent life is really wasted if no one get a lesson from this:
It's a moment to think why it's important to be able to learn to speak-up your concerns, worries, and your fears. Realize, accept and then seek help to control your emotional problems, a must if you are a parent or a relative so you do not abuse a younger or weaker person. Save your life and few more by realizing that uncontrollable anger is harmful for health its a contagious disease and can be cured with proper methods and professional help. Also look for "anger management" classes nearby.
@sami: Please don't blame the religion when such demons in the form of religious scholars act. Its demons should be reprimanded.
@Proud Christian: Well, as a counter-point, when I watch movies (say in 3-D), I still am aware that they are only images and not reality.
if all the religious teachings and knowledge of Islam couldn't stop him from this heinous act...why these mullahs stress on becoming more religious...for an ideal society.
Such are our religious molvis. They call themselves ulamaas karaam.
@sami: It's obviously not Islam's fault but a fool who probably considers himself of defender of Islam or at least a true muslim. Well he not just let down people who had faith in him but also the religion itself. Definitely, should be hung!
@narayana murthy: Your reply was a disgrace to atheist nation.. Tell me, have you seen Americans landing on the moon, Holocaust, Dinosaurs, air, darkness, cold?
If not, does that mean we stop believing in that too. Try to plagiarize little more carefully next time when you visit Sam Harris website.
@Sajid...Heaven?!!! Really? Have you seen the heaven? Have you met anyone who has seen the heaven?
Only ignoramus people believe in heaven and hell. The rest believe in nothing.
Islam is a Very Peaceful Religion! It's MOSSAD, RAW, CIA & FBI who are after Islam & Pakistan. Do you want to buy Brookyn Bridge?
@sami: grow up, this happens all around the word. every religion , in every race.
He called it a moment of weakness? As if people usually have the urge to lure a child to an isolated area and stab them when they get mad at their parents but usually have the strength to restrain the desire. Personally, I'm no angel. People irritate me constantly. Some in the past to a great extent. But, I can't imagine ever even entertaining the concept of getting payback through the person's child beyond a dark joke I'd keep to myself and still never consider it a real option. Any man that can claim guilt of such a thing and manage to still make a small attempt at justification is a man who still, deep down, has a spot where he doesn't fully regret it and shows he's messed up in the head. It shows he's messed up in the head due to the fact excuses are made to call on others to relate to your situation. Most people shouldn't be able to.
"People gathered at the briefing demanded that people like Sheikh be hanged publicly."
The state must pay heed to the public demand, otherwise they will start doing this themselves very soon, dont test their patience any more.
he should be executed
such a "peaceful" religion our Islam is.
Poor little boy may his soul rest in peace
Awful no doubt the child will go to heaven. May Allah give his parents the strength to deal with this.