16/04/2025
Incidence of Poisoning Christian Children in Hafizabad:
A tragic incident occurred on April 14, 2025, at around 6:30 pm in Village Qilla Shib Singh, District Hafizabad. According to the FIR (No. 756/25) filed under sections 302 and 337J of the PPC at City Hafizabad Police Station, Shahbaz Masih, Shahzad, and Imran returned from work and witnessed unknown individuals distributing poisoned sweets to Christian children. The perpetrators fled in a rickshaw.
Eight children consumed the sweets, leading to critical conditions. They were rushed to the hospital via 1122 ambulance. Unfortunately, three children lost their lives:
- Danish: 10 years old, son of Shahbaz Masih (complainant)
- Samsoon: 8 years old, son of Irfan
- David: 7 years old, son of Shahzad
Five other children who consumed the sweets were referred to Lahore Children's Hospital and are reportedly out of danger:
- Atsha: 10 years old, son of Shahbaz
- Harry: 8 years old, son of Tanzeem
- Kelash: 10 years old, son of Amir
- Shaloom: 10 years old, son of Irfan
- Shehroz: 7 years old, son of Irfan
The Voice team visited the place of occurrence and the Hospital and met the families and the affected children. The Voice team also met the Police officer in charge investigation and inquired about the occurrence and the facts. The police investigation suggests the poisoned sweets were intended to kill stray dogs and were left in a rickshaw. The rickshaw driver, Irfan, has been arrested, and further investigation is ongoing. The Voice Team stands in solidarity with the families of the deceased children and is committed to providing legal support during this difficult time.