A three-year-old girl who went missing from Karachi’s Quaidabad area was found dead hours later, her body stuffed inside a sack, prompting police to launch a wide-ranging investigation into what officials described as a deeply disturbing crime.
Police registered a case under provisions related to kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, torture and other relevant offences. Investigators said efforts were underway to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Karachi Police Chief Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said preliminary post-mortem findings indicated an exceptionally brutal case of suspected sexual assault. She added that signs of physical torture had also been observed on the child’s body during the examination.
Dr Syed said the complete autopsy report would provide greater clarity regarding the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. The victim, identified as Kulsoom, reportedly disappeared around noon after leaving her home to play outside, according to police.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Quaidabad Police Station on the complaint of the child’s father, Qasim, he had left for work at about 10 a.m. and later received a phone call from his wife at approximately 4:30 p.m. informing him that their daughter had been missing since midday.
The complainant stated that he rushed home and conducted an extensive search for the child but was unable to locate her. Later, at around 7:45 p.m., he returned to the neighbourhood and found a crowd gathered near his residence.
According to the FIR, neighbours informed him that his daughter’s body had been discovered inside a flour sack. The complaint alleged that unidentified individuals had murdered the child and abandoned her body near the entrance of the street.
Rescue officials said the body was immediately shifted to a hospital for medico-legal formalities and a post-mortem examination. The FIR further stated that local residents transported the girl to the hospital, where doctors informed the family that she had died several hours earlier.
Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar took notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir. He also directed authorities to ensure the swift arrest of those involved in the crime.
Police said the investigation was continuing and that all possible angles were being examined.