KARACHI: A harrowing incident involving the death of a five-year-old girl named Sawera has sparked grief and outrage in Karachi, leading to a protest by her family and local residents.
The child's body was recovered from a stream in the Liaquatabad B-1 area on Sunday. Sawera had gone missing the previous day after leaving her home in Sikandar Goth, located within the jurisdiction of Sachal Police Station, to play.
Her family later received a call from Liaquatabad Police Station informing them that her body had been found.
Speaking to the media, the girl's maternal uncle said that Sawera had gone missing around 11am and that when the body was recovered, it was unrecognisable.
He added that it was identified by her sister, who recognised her by her hair. The uncle also said the family had seen CCTV footage showing a woman attempting to take the girl away.
In response to the tragedy, the family, joined by local residents, staged a protest on Gulzar Hijri Road, placing the child’s body on the road and demanding the arrest of those responsible.
The protest disrupted traffic in the area for several hours before it was called off following assurances from the police that action would be taken. The girl’s uncle also revealed that a missing person report had been filed at the Sachal Police Station soon after Sawera disappeared.
He claimed that her hands and feet were tied when the body was recovered, adding to the family’s suspicions of foul play.
Police, however, said that no relevant CCTV footage from the area had been recovered so far.
A post-mortem examination has been conducted, and according to initial reports, there is no evidence of sexual assault. The investigation is ongoing.
The funeral prayer for Sawera was held at a mosque in Post Office Society.