Faisalabad (AsiaNews) – The death of Waseem Abbas, a 15-year-old orphan in Pakistan’s Punjab province, has raised serious questions regarding the protection of vulnerable minors and the accountability of the institutions tasked with their care.
Originally from the Muzaffargarh district, Waseem had lived in an orphanage for years. Just days before his death, he had been placed with a local contractor, Tauqeer Nazir, to train as an electrician.
According to accounts, the boy sought to leave the job following a dispute, during which he was allegedly subjected to mistreatment and threats. Surveillance footage appears to show the youth fleeing, pursued by a car that struck and killed him.
Questions over the role of the orphanage
The police have arrested Nazir and another suspect, Amjad Ali, on charges of murder. The extent of their individual responsibility has yet to be determined in court; however, yesterday, during a hearing in Multan, a group of lawyers assaulted Nazir, an incident that has sparked further concern regarding the rule of law.
Various organisations stress that justice must be pursued with thorough investigations and a fair trial rather than through acts of violence.
The incident has raised serious questions regarding the role played by the orphanage, which reportedly claimed to have conducted checks before placing the boy with his employer.
The Child Protection and Welfare Bureau of Punjab and the child rights organisation Search for Justice are calling for full accountability, including with regard to the oversight of working conditions.
In Pakistan, many children work in agriculture, workshops, as domestic workers, in brick kilns, and in other sectors where oversight and protection may be inadequate. Poverty, barriers to accessing education, and limited social protection all contribute to the problem.
Assault on a journalist in Gojra
Meanwhile, the issue of press freedom and violence against journalists has also come to the fore in the country, following the alleged assault, injury, and detention of reporter Amjad Islam Amjad in Gojra, Punjab.
According to a report published by Journalism Pakistan on Sunday Amjad, a contributor to 92 News, was reportedly injured during a contentious incident, after which he was taken into custody by the local police.
A complaint, dated 15 October, accuses the journalist himself of assault, theft, and criminal intimidation. The complainant, Saifullah, alleges that Amjad struck him with a motorcycle, attacked him with a knife, robbed him of cash and a wristwatch, and subsequently threatened him. Another report published last Saturday states, conversely, that Amjad was, in fact, severely injured in an attack, after which he was taken into custody by law enforcement.
The account raises questions as to whether the journalist received immediate medical attention and underwent a health assessment. Activists argue that the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on the reporter, the conflicting accounts of the incident, and the conduct of the police warrant an independent investigation.
According to the Faisalabad Press Club, the case raises questions about how complaints involving journalists should be handled, while ensuring that both the accused and the complainant are afforded due process in accordance with the law.
Samson Salamat, president of Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan, strongly condemned the incident.
“Violence against journalists is not only an attack on press freedom but also an assault on freedom of expression and the fundamental rights of citizens,” he said in his statement.
He stressed the need to protect media professionals, ensuring an environment free from fear, intimidation, and pressure, so that they may carry out their work with complete independence and freedom.
