A 15-year-old orphan, Waseem Abbas, was allegedly chased and run over by a contractor in a private housing society in Multan after leaving work, leading to his death and sparking public outrage.
The main suspect in this case, Tauqeer Nazir, has been apprehended and the car used in the incident has been confiscated along with FIR registered of murder. Another suspect by the name Amjad Ali has also reportedly emerged in this case.
What Happened to Waseem Abbas?
According to police, Waseem was learning electrical work under contractor Tauqeer Nazir and had been working with him for approximately six to seven days. The teenager reportedly left the worksite, after which the contractor allegedly pursued him. Initial reports state that Tauqeer first chased Waseem on foot but failed to catch him. He then allegedly followed the teenager in a car, accompanied by another man identified as Amjad Ali.
CCTV footage reportedly shows Waseem attempting to flee before the car strikes him. According to police, the impact caused the teenager to hit the gate or entrance structure of a nearby house, resulting in fatal head injuries. He died at the scene. The footage has become an important part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
What Did the Suspect Say?
In his initial statement, Tauqeer reportedly claimed that Waseem repeatedly left work without permission and that he had attempted to stop the teenager from running away. In a separate account, the contractor claimed that he initially chased Waseem on foot before returning with his car. He said he intended to position the vehicle ahead of the boy to block his path, but the car allegedly skidded and failed to stop, causing the fatal collision.
However, eyewitnesses reportedly disputed the suspect’s explanation, alleging that the vehicle had been deliberately driven towards the teenager. The FIR also alleges that the suspects intentionally drove the car at Waseem with the intention of killing him. Police have not yet established the allegations through a court verdict, and the investigation is continuing to examine the conflicting accounts.
DHA police registered a murder case on behalf of the state, with Sub-Inspector Liaquat Ali named as the complainant in reports concerning the FIR. The case was registered against Tauqeer Nazir and Amjad Ali. Police arrested Tauqeer and took the vehicle involved in the incident into custody. The suspect was subsequently produced before a court in Multan, which approved a four-day physical remand to allow investigators to question him further.
Who Was Waseem Abbas?
Waseem was originally from Muzaffargarh and had reportedly been living at an orphanage for around five to six years. According to his family, his father died approximately nine years ago.
His maternal grandfather reportedly admitted him to an orphanage and madrassa in the hope that he would receive an education and have better opportunities in life. Following his father’s death, Waseem’s mother reportedly married his paternal uncle, after which Waseem and his brother were placed in an orphanage, according to accounts shared by family members and local residents.
The orphanage administration confirmed that Waseem had been sent to Tauqeer to learn electrical work. However, his cousin, Nadeem, said the teenager had often expressed reluctance to continue the training and wanted to return home instead. Waseem’s family members also said they did not know Tauqeer personally and had never met him. They have demanded justice for the teenager.
This is a developing story.
Sources: The Express Tribune, and The News.
