Suspect in Multan Teenager’s Killing Killed in Alleged Police Encounter in Bahawalpur

Tauqeer Nazir, who was accused of chasing and running over 14-year-old orphan Waseem Abbas, was killed after an exchange of fire with the Crime Control Department

News Desk  

BAHAWALPUR: Tauqeer Nazir, the prime suspect in the killing of 14-year-old Waseem Abbas in Multan, was killed in an alleged encounter with the Crime Control Department (CCD) in Bahawalpur early on Wednesday, police said, days after the teenager was chased and run over by a car in a private housing society.

According to CCD District Officer Irfan Akbar, a police team attempted to stop two men riding a motorcycle near Bahawalpur’s Northern Bypass. The suspects allegedly opened fire on the police while attempting to flee, triggering an exchange of gunfire.

Akbar said Tauqeer was killed during the encounter after being struck by bullets fired by his accomplice, who escaped from the scene. Police have identified the fugitive accomplice in the Multan murder case as Amjad.

The CCD said Tauqeer had escaped from police custody while on physical remand in connection with Waseem’s murder. However, authorities have not explained when or how he escaped custody, how he reached Bahawalpur, or the circumstances surrounding his alleged encounter with the police.

Suspect had been granted three-day physical remand

Tauqeer’s death came a day after a judicial magistrate in Multan granted police three days of physical remand for further investigation into the teenager’s killing.

He had initially been handed over to police on a four-day physical remand by a judicial magistrate in connection with the case. Police subsequently presented him before Judicial Magistrate Saadia Aslam on Tuesday and requested a 14-day extension to continue the investigation. The court granted a three-day remand.

Tauqeer was arrested on Monday after the incident, while police continued efforts to apprehend his alleged accomplice, Amjad, who remained at large. The suspect reportedly faced an assault by lawyers during his court appearance on Tuesday.

Multan City Police Officer Akhtar Farooq had earlier said raids were being conducted to arrest the second suspect. Expressing grief over the teenager’s death, he said the boy had been subjected to what he described as “barbarity”.

CCTV footage shows teenager being chased and hit by car

Waseem Abbas was allegedly chased and run over by a car in Multan’s Royal Orchard housing society. CCTV footage of the incident showed the teenager running along a road before a car swerved towards him and pursued him. The vehicle eventually struck him, causing him to fall and hit the gate of a nearby house.

Rescue officials said Waseem suffered a severe head injury and died at the scene. His body was shifted to Nishtar Hospital under police supervision before being transported to his native Muzaffargarh district for burial.

According to the first information report (FIR), Waseem had been working for the suspects while learning electrical work. His cousin told police that the teenager had allegedly faced violence and threats from the men and was fleeing when they pursued him in a car and struck him.

The FIR was registered on behalf of the state at Multan’s DHA police station under Sections 302, relating to intentional murder, and 34, concerning acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention, of the Pakistan Penal Code. Two suspects were named in the case, and police took the vehicle allegedly used in the incident into custody.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had earlier said Tauqeer and his associate allegedly chased Waseem for approximately one kilometre before running him over. Police said their initial investigation had found no evidence that the teenager was involved in theft.

Orphanage had sent Waseem to learn electrical work

Waseem, who belonged to Muzaffargarh district, had been living at an NGO-run orphanage for five years. According to Shoaib Haider, the orphanage’s general secretary, the boy had expressed a desire to learn electrical work and was sent to Tauqeer, a contractor, approximately six days before his death.

Haider said the orphanage had made inquiries about Tauqeer before sending Waseem to work with him. The contractor reportedly had a team of around 40 to 45 boys.

According to Haider, Tauqeer claimed he had followed Waseem in his car after the boy became tired while running away on foot. The suspect reportedly maintained that his car had slipped, but Haider said the CCTV footage did not appear to support that explanation.

“It looks as though he was hit with the car,” Haider said, adding that Tauqeer would have to explain during the investigation why the teenager had fled from him.

Haider said the orphanage had received no previous complaints against the contractor. Another boy from the institution had also been working for Tauqeer, but the orphanage brought him back following the incident.

Waseem’s cousin Nadeem, who had been living at the orphanage for six years, said the teenager had often expressed reluctance to work for the electrician and had said he wanted to return home. Nadeem said he did not know Tauqeer personally and had not met him. Waseem had not returned to the orphanage after leaving to learn the trade.

Family demands justice

Waseem’s family accused the suspects of deliberately killing the teenager and demanded justice. His uncle, Jafar Hussain, told the media that Waseem’s father had died nine years earlier. The boy was initially supported by his maternal grandfather before Hussain looked after him for two to three years. He was subsequently admitted to the orphanage by his grandfather and uncle.

“Tauqeer deliberately killed my nephew. I know what condition Abbas was in and how I saw him,” Hussain said, demanding that those responsible be held accountable.

Waseem’s maternal grandfather said he had taken the boy to the orphanage because he wanted him to receive an education rather than struggle on the streets. He also called for the suspect to be punished.

The teenager’s funeral prayers were held at around 2am in Mouza Daulatpur, and he was buried in his ancestral graveyard in the village. Only close relatives and orphanage officials attended the funeral, which was held promptly because of the condition of the body.

Child protection bureau refuses orphanage registration

Separately, the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) refused to register the Multan-based orphanage over its failure to ensure the safety and supervision of a child placed with a contractor for work, bureau chairperson Sarah Ahmad said.

In a statement on X, Ahmad urged Punjab police to take legal action against the orphanage owner and hold those responsible accountable for the teenager’s death.

She said the bureau had issued minimum care standards for orphanages housing children in Punjab, stressing that institutions could not be allowed to neglect their duty of care.

Ahmad also called on the Punjab Charities Commission to review the orphanage’s registration and licence and cancel them if warranted under the law, besides initiating action against those found responsible. “Every child deserves protection, dignity and safety. No orphan should be left at the mercy of those entrusted with their care,” she said.