Four-year-old allegedly tortured by mother in Sadiqabad, grandmother registers FIR

A disturbing case of alleged child abuse has emerged in Sadiqabad tehsil of Rahim Yar Khan district, where a four-year-old boy

SADIQABAD: A disturbing case of alleged child abuse has emerged in Sadiqabad tehsil of Rahim Yar Khan district, where a four-year-old boy was allegedly subjected to physical torture by his mother. The incident came to light after the woman reportedly sent a video of the alleged abuse to her own mother, the child’s grandmother, through WhatsApp and asked her to take the child away immediately.

According to details of the First Information Report (FIR) obtained by Minute Mirror, the child’s grandmother approached the police and lodged a complaint against her daughter, Salma Riaz, over the alleged incident.

The case was registered at City Sadiqabad Police Station under Sections 324 and 328-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The FIR was registered on October 17, 2026, while the alleged incident took place on October 15.

FIR details and allegations

According to the FIR, the complainant stated that her daughter, Salma Riaz, had married Zahid Ali approximately five years ago. The couple had a son, Muhammad Subhan, who is around four to five years old. The FIR further states that Zahid Ali divorced Salma approximately a year ago.

Following the divorce, Salma began living with her son in Noor Colony, Sadiqabad.

The complainant alleged that she visited her daughter and grandson at their residence on October 15 at around 5pm, where she witnessed her daughter allegedly subjecting the child to physical violence.

The FIR states that the mother allegedly struck the child on his head and cheek, cut his hair using a hair-trimming machine and pressed her feet against his neck and chest. She also allegedly kicked the child, causing injuries.

According to the complaint, the grandmother raised an alarm after witnessing the incident, prompting neighbours to gather at the scene and help rescue the child.

The grandmother subsequently submitted a written complaint to the police, leading to the registration of a criminal case against her daughter.

Police recover child, grandmother granted custody

Following the registration of the case, City Sadiqabad Station House Officer Jam Aftab Ahmed took action, according to police.

The child was recovered from his grandmother’s residence and placed under protection. He was also taken to a hospital for medical treatment following the alleged assault.

After the medical treatment, the child was handed over to his grandmother’s custody on court orders. Police said the child was safe and stable following the incident.

Meanwhile, the accused woman reportedly fled to Karachi after the alleged incident. Police are conducting raids to arrest her, according to the information provided by the police.

The SHO said the woman was divorced and that the incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute over handing the child over to his grandmother.

Calls for child protection

The incident has renewed concerns about child safety and domestic violence, particularly when family disputes allegedly result in harm to vulnerable children.

Child protection advocates stress the importance of ensuring that children are not exposed to violence amid disputes between family members. The allegations in this case require a transparent investigation and due legal process to establish responsibility.

Authorities are being urged to ensure the child’s continued safety and take appropriate legal action based on the investigation’s findings.

Children deserve care, protection and compassion, and family disagreements must never become a reason to subject them to violence. The case highlights the need for effective safeguards to protect children from abuse within their own homes.