CJP takes suo moto notice of minor's rape in Chichawatni

ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar has taken a suo moto notice of brutal murder and rape of an eight-year-old schoolgirl, who hailed from Chichawatni city of Punjab.

The top judge also sought a report from Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab Capt. (r) Arif Nawaz Khan in next 24 hours.

The case relates to Noor Fatima, a second-grade student from Mahmoodabad area of Chichawatni who was burnt alive after rape and breathed her last at a hospital in Lahore on Monday.

Following the incident, residents of the area and the victim’s family took to the streets to protest the gruesome murder and raised slogans of “Zaalimon! khoon ka hisaab do” [“Oppressors! answer for the blood (of the child)”].

The girl had gone missing on Sunday evening after she left home to buy some sweets and when she did not return, her family members and neighbours started looking for her and found her at a street in an unconscious condition, with most of her body burnt.

Fatima was taken to Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, from where she was referred to Jinnah Hospital in Lahore. According to doctors, she had received 70 to 80 percent burns. Her funeral prayers were offered on Tuesday.

District Police Officer (DPO) Sahiwal, Mohammad Atif Akram told media that the postmortem report had evidence of sexual assault.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz had also taken notice of the incident and summoned a report from Inspector General Police Punjab.