12-year-old madrassa student dies after alleged torture in Lahore

A 12-year-old student who was allegedly subjected to brutal physical abuse at a religious seminary in Lahore has died after remaining under treatment for eight days

LAHORE: A 12-year-old student who was allegedly subjected to brutal physical abuse at a religious seminary in Lahore has died after remaining under treatment for eight days, triggering widespread grief and renewed calls for stricter oversight of educational institutions and an end to corporal punishment.

The deceased, Ali Haider, belonged to Kot Lingah in Bahawalnagar district and had been studying at a madrassa located on Burq Road in Lahore for the past five months, where he was memorising the Holy Quran.

According to the victim’s family, the incident occurred several days ago when Ali Haider was allegedly beaten by his teacher, identified as Qari Ghulam Rasool. The family claimed the assault left the child with serious injuries but, instead of arranging immediate medical treatment, the seminary administration allegedly sent him back to his hometown on a passenger bus.

Relatives said the boy’s father was only informed that his son was being sent home and was not told that he had sustained life-threatening injuries.

When Ali Haider reached Bahawalnagar, his family found him in severe pain with visible signs of physical violence. He was immediately rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors admitted him in critical condition.

Family members alleged that medical examinations revealed multiple fractures in his arms and legs, along with injuries to other parts of his body. Despite continuous treatment for eight days, the young student succumbed to his injuries.

Speaking to reporters after his son’s death, Ali Haider’s father accused the seminary teacher of subjecting the child to severe torture. He said he had entrusted his son to the institution to receive religious education but never imagined he would return home in such a critical condition.

The bereaved father also alleged that his son’s life could have been saved had the seminary provided immediate medical assistance instead of sending him home without informing the family about the seriousness of his injuries.

He appealed to the Punjab government, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Inspector General of Police and other relevant authorities to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation into the incident. He demanded the immediate arrest of Qari Ghulam Rasool and strict legal action against everyone found responsible for the child’s death.

The incident has sparked anger and sorrow among local residents, civil society representatives and religious scholars, many of whom have called for stronger monitoring of seminaries and educational institutions to prevent incidents of violence against children. They also stressed the need for effective enforcement of laws prohibiting corporal punishment and ensuring the safety of students.

As of the filing of this report, police had not officially confirmed whether a criminal case had been registered or whether any arrests had been made. Authorities also had not disclosed details regarding the progress of the investigation.

Meanwhile, the seminary administration and the accused teacher had not issued any public statement in response to the allegations.