ISLAMABAD: The four-year-old girl, who was found dead in nearby fields two days ago, was raped before being murdered, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General Salahuddin Mehsud told a press conference on Wednesday.

Medical reports of the minor girl confirmed that she was raped before being strangled to death, said the provincial top cop. He, however, added that police were waiting for forensic report, “as there were some ambiguities in the medical report and police would take action after the forensic report”.

The four-year-old girl (identity withheld) had gone missing from Saturday afternoon in Mardan and her body was found from the sugarcane fields in the area the next day.

“We have formed two committees which are observing the situation and soon the culprit will be arrested, the IG said, adding: “We have collected evidence from the spot as well the DNA report which will help police catch the culprit involved in the harrowing incident.”.

Meanwhile, Awami National Party (ANP) and civil society organisations staged a protest in front of the Mardan Press Club and demanded arrest of those involved in the ghastly act.

Adviser to Prime Minister Amir Muqam and Senator Rubina Khalid visited the family of the minor girl family and conveyed condolence to the family.

No high official from the KP government visited the effected family till yet.

Maliha Hussain, an active member of the AASHA movement, told Daily Times that the situation would get worse if sexual education was not added to schools’ curriculum and friendly discussions were not held between parents and children.

According to Sahil, an organisation working on child abuse cases, around 1,764 cases were reported in the first six months of 2017 in Pakistan.

Published in Daily Times, January 18th 2018.