SWAT: The police on Tuesday registered a case against a cleric for allegedly assaulting a seven-year-old boy inside a mosque in the Rahimabad area of Mingora.

According to Rahimabad police, the victim’s father filed an FIR, stating that his son was playing outside a mosque when the suspect, Qari Wajid, took him to the mosque in Takhta Band and assaulted him.

The complainant stated that when the child screamed, the accused reportedly pulled out a knife and threatened to kill him if he made a noise. “The accused then released the boy after the assault.” SHO Mujib Alam Khan stated that the suspect was identified through CCTV footage and would be arrested soon.

A case has been registered against him under sections 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) of Pakistan Penal Code, and section 53 (sexual abuse) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Act.

He added that the accused had a history of involvement in similar cases of abuse against children in different areas.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2025