Prime Suspect in Multan Orphan Boy Murder Killed in Alleged Police Encounter

MULTAN / BAHAWALPUR/ The prime suspect in the brutal murder of a 15-year-old orphan boy in Multan’s private housing society, Royal Orchard, has been killed in an alleged encounter with the Crime Control Department (CCD) near Bahawalpur.

Police said the suspect, Tauqeer Nazir, had escaped from custody of DHA Police Station, Multan, while on a four-day physical remand in connection with the killing of Waseem Abbas.

*Details of Encounter*

According to CCD District Officer Irfan Akbar, a police team attempted to stop two motorcycle riders near the Northern Bypass in Bahawalpur.

Police claim the men opened fire while attempting to flee, triggering an exchange of fire. During the shootout, Tauqeer Nazir was killed allegedly by gunfire from his own accomplice, who managed to escape.

Police have yet to explain how the suspect escaped custody while on remand and how he reached Bahawalpur from Multan.

*Court Appearance and Lawyers’ Assault*

Earlier, a judicial magistrate in Multan had handed Tauqeer Nazir over to police on a four-day physical remand for interrogation.

During his court appearance, a group of enraged lawyers assaulted the suspect, video of which went viral on social media.

Police said another accomplice of Tauqeer, identified as Amjad, is also nominated in the murder case and remains at large.

*The Brutal Murder of Orphan Boy*

The incident took place between October 19 and 20 in Royal Orchard Housing Society, Multan. The victim was identified as 15-year-old Waseem Abbas, a resident of Muzaffargarh, who was living in an NGO-run orphanage which, according to Chairperson Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) Punjab and MPA Sarah Ahmed, was unregistered.

According to police, Waseem had been sent about a week before his death to work with contractor Tauqeer Nazir to learn electrical work. The boy reportedly wanted to leave the job due to alleged mistreatment.

The viral CCTV footage shows the 15-year-old running for his life while the suspect chased him first on foot and then in a car. According to Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, the suspect and his associate chased the boy for about one kilometre before deliberately running him over, killing him on the spot.

Police said initial investigation found no evidence of theft against the boy.

*Case and Burial*

Police registered a murder case under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code and seized the vehicle. Several staff members of the orphanage were also detained for questioning.

Waseem Abbas was laid to rest in his ancestral village Daultpur, Muzaffargarh, after funeral prayers.

The CCTV video of the boy’s killing had sparked massive public outrage on social media, with demands for exemplary punishment for the accused.

*Second Suspect Killed in Islamabad*

Meanwhile, a day earlier, in Islamabad’s Ramna police jurisdiction, suspect Muhammad Noman, who was in custody in the suicide case of university student Laiba Ijaz, was also killed in an alleged police encounter.

According to police, Noman was being taken for recovery when four of his accomplices riding on two motorcycles opened fire, killing him with their own gunfire before fleeing the scene.