Multan orphan’s prime murder suspect shot dead in alleged encounter

The prime suspect accused of running over and killing a 15-year-old orphan boy in Multan has been killed in an alleged police encounter near Bahawalpur, officials said.

The suspect, identified as Touqeer Nazir, had allegedly run over Waseem Abbas with a car after the teenager refused to continue working for him.

According to District Officer Counter Crime Department (CCD) Irfan Akbar, Touqeer was arrested after the incident and presented before a court. A judicial magistrate had granted police four-day physical remand, but the suspect later escaped from custody.

Police subsequently attempted to stop two motorcyclists on the Northern Bypass near Bahawalpur. The riders allegedly opened fire while attempting to flee, triggering an exchange of gunfire.

During the encounter, one of the suspects was killed by firing from his own accomplice, while the other managed to escape, according to police. The deceased was identified as Touqeer Nazir.

The case had sparked widespread public anger after CCTV footage emerged showing the teenager being chased before a vehicle was driven into him.

Multiple camera angles reportedly contradicted an initial attempt to portray the incident as a road accident. The footage showed the boy running away while the suspects followed him, before the vehicle struck him at high speed, resulting in his death at the scene.

Police had arrested Touqeer and registered a murder case following the incident. Multan CPO Akhtar Farooq said Waseem was living at an orphanage run by an NGO and had been sent to Touqeer seven days earlier to learn electrical work.

Touqeer reportedly took contracts for electrical work at different buildings and had previously provided vocational training to children from the same orphanage.

Police said the teenager was pursued after he decided to leave the job, after which the vehicle was allegedly driven into him.

Touqeer was also assaulted by lawyers during his court appearance following his arrest. The case generated significant outrage on social media, with users describing the killing as brutal and demanding strict legal action against those responsible.