13-Year-old Boy Shot Dead By ‘Influential’ Relative In Chakwal

DHUDIAL: A teenage boy aged 13 was shot dead in his house on Thursday by a relative who had been allegedly harassing the victim’s family for the past several months over a monetary dispute, police said. This incident took place in district Chakwal/Punjab.

A relative of Haroon, opened fire on the deceased due to a prevalent monetary dispute, killing him on the spot, Station House Officer Duman police station Faisal Mansoor told media. He said the boy’s mother and paternal uncle were also injured in this firing.

Arsalan, a cousin of the Haroon, told that 13-year-old Haroon was having breakfast while wearing his uniform, getting ready to leave for school, when the relative trespassed into the house in Kolian village of Chakwal and opened fire killing him on the spot

An other relative told the suspect fired 5 to 6 rounds, two of which hit the deceased child and an accomplice of the suspect was waiting outside the house during the incident.

The bereaved family of the child feels fear that the accused, who they claim is a British citizen in his 30s, might flee back to the UK.

SHO Mansoor said the suspect managed to escape after the incident and police was conducting raids to apprehend him.

Haroon’s relatives alleged that the accused had been harassing the victim’s family for the past several months and had been demanding the money which he had given to the family several years ago for purchasing the land.

However, the family maintains that it did not owe the relative any amount because the property’s funds had already been settled, one of the victim’s relatives said.

In the past when Haroon’s family informed police over alleged harassment, the suspect was arrested but eventually managed to walk scot free. The deceased’s relatives said his family had “zero trust” in police as the accused is an “influential and wealthy” man who has means to bribe the local police.

A source in the police department told media that the suspect had been arrested in the past on complaints from the family, but was released “due to pressure from high-ups”.

Police have registered a first information report (FIR) of the incident against the accused under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 324 (attempted murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Police will also record the statements of those injured in the firing. The injured were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Chakwal.