LODHRAN: Six-year-old girl Asma, who was found raped and murdered in Dunyapur, Lodhran was attacked by her cousin, the police inform. Speaking at a press conference, Lodhran District Police Officer Ameer Taimur said that the victim’s paternal uncle’s 18-year-old son Ali Haider had kidnapped the child from her house on February 19, and then raped her. He killed her because by that time, Asma had recognised him. The accused later dumped Asma’s dismembered body near her abode, which was discovered on Friday. The victim’s brother Javed filed a case with the police, who arrested four people including two of Asma’s cousins who also lived near her house. The accused confessed to the crime during interrogation. Asma’s funeral prayers were offered at a local mosque, in which DPO Lodhran and other senior officials also participated. She was laid to rest at her ancestral graveyard amid tight security. It is reported that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also visit Asma’s parents to express his condolences. On hearing of the incident, Shehbaz Sharif instructed the police and the authorities to leave no stone unturned in punishing the culprits. “The culprits do not deserve any kind of sympathy,” Sharif said. “The rape and murder of the minor is horrific. The rising number of such incidents is an alarming moment for the whole society.” Separately, a 12-year-old boy, Muhammad Ramzan, was arrested for raping a four-year-old girl in same area. Naseem Bibi, who was the mother of the victim, had accused the boy of doing that. She said he took her to a cattle pen and raped her. Further investigations in the case are underway. The litany of cases have only started emerging, ever since, Kasur’s Zainab was found raped and killed. Published in Daily Times, February 26th 2018.