Media fury has erupted in Pakistan as one of the country’s major news channels allegedly broadcast tickers that targeted an ethnic minority in an attempt to justify a little girl’s rape.

It comes as the family of young Pakistani girl Farishta, 10, claimed police told them their daughter may have eloped instead of taking their concerns seriously when they reported her missing.

Farishta was allegedly abducted and murdered. She disappeared from her Islamabad neighbourhood when she went out play on May 15. Five days later a little girl’s body was found, believed to be hers.

Farishta had failed to come home that day, her family raised the alarm when she didn’t show up in time for Iftar, a Muslim evening meal that ends the daily Ramadan fast.

Days after her murder, social media rage has been unleashed on Pakistan channel ARY News who allegedly attempted to paint a negative picture of the Pashtun minority in response to the crime.

ARY News has been flooded with complaints after screenshots of the channels tickers started doing the rounds on Twitter. Many Pashtuns are calling for a channel boycott as Farishta’s family are Pashtun.

Leaders and activists from the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM) have joined in mass protests in response to the little girl’s death.

“PTM’s clamouring at Farishta’s death exposed,” one ARY ticker is claimed to have read.

“Farishta’s father does not belong to Mohmand district,” read another.

“Farishta’s father Gul Nabi has a fake passport,” read another.

PTM Karachi Protest Against the brutal killing of ten year old Farishta Momand and Demanding justice for Farishta #Justice4Farishta#BoycottARYNews #میں_بھی_افغان_ہوں pic.twitter.com/bsowyUJkgj — Abdul Razzaq (@RazaqGulistani) May 22, 2019

All those that have some decency, must #BoycottARYNews - Boycott does not mean only not watching it, but businesses should stop advertising on it. If others don't Pashtuns must. — Ijaz Khan (@ijazkhan) May 22, 2019

Outraged viewers have accused the news service of “protecting involved culprits” and justifying the alleged sexual assault of the young victim. Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Many of the complaints on Twitter have accused ARY of being anti-Pashtun, however some Pakistanis are defending the channel and their reporting following threats directed at reporters.

Positive reporting of Pakistani Media is on full swing. How they r propagating & manipulating the issue, brutal killing & rape of innocent Farishta. When u cannot give justice, at least you shouldn't stoop so low. This is very dangerous for whole Pashtun Nation. #BoycottARYNews pic.twitter.com/X6WUdxe3yF — Ikram (@Ikram16538860) May 22, 2019

ARY News has main role in promotion of state terrorism #BoycottARYNews#میں_بھی_افغان_ہوں — kochai Afghan (@kochaiAfghaan) May 22, 2019

Police are now investigating whether Farishta was raped as protests are being held to demand justice. Hundreds of people, mostly Pashtuns, stormed the Pakistani capital demanding answers. Some have compared the case to the horrific rape and murder of Zainab Ansari, 6, in 2018.

Farishta’s father Ghulam Nabi told the BBC the police did not help him when his family tried to report the crime. A case has now been opened against several officers to determine whether they failed to properly investigate the family’s claims that their daughter was in danger.

I request all my pashtun follow to unfollow and report every Pakistan media channel on insta and twitter , unsubscribe them on YouTube unlike and report them on Facebook .Specifically #ARYNews#میں_بھی_افغان_ہوں#BoycottARYNews — سر حد پختون مومند (@SarhadMomand) May 22, 2019

Love me or hate me but u can't change me..#LANTARYPR#ARYNews boycott #میں_بھی_افغان_ہوں — Ayub khan (@realAyub22) May 22, 2019