Despite a desperate overnight search by their families, the children remained untraceable until 7:30am the next day
HAFIZABAD:
The bodies of two young cousins were discovered in a locked metal trunk inside a relative’s home.
Eight-year-old Ahmed Ali and seven-year-old Arshman Ali went missing on the evening of May 28 after leaving home to play.
Despite a desperate overnight search by their families, the children remained untraceable until 7:30am the next day.
A foul odour led relatives to a locked trunk in the house of Arshman’s uncle, Inzimam Ali.
Upon opening it, the lifeless bodies of the two boys were found inside, sparking shock and outrage throughout the village. Police arrived promptly at the scene, secured the area, and sent the bodies for post-mortem examination.
Although the exact cause of death is pending medical confirmation, preliminary signs suggest the boys may have been strangled or otherwise violently killed.
An FIR has been registered at Kassoki Police Station on the complaint of the victims’ families. The case has been filed under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including 302 (murder), 363 (kidnapping), 147 (rioting), and 149 (unlawful assembly).
Inzimam Ali and another accused, Zain Ali, are in police custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend three other unidentified suspects.
The fact that one of the suspects is a close family member of the deceased has added a chilling dimension to the tragedy. Investigators are questioning the arrested individuals and say further arrests are likely. Grief and outrage have gripped the local community, where residents are demanding swift and exemplary justice.
News published in the Express Tribune on 30th May 2025
