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Teacher admits killing student' Teacher admits killing student
(about 4 hours later)
The teacher of a religious seminary in Pakistan's Punjab province has confessed to torturing a student to death, police say.The teacher of a religious seminary in Pakistan's Punjab province has confessed to torturing a student to death, police say.
Atif, seven, was hung upside down from a ceiling fan by Maulvi Ziauddin for not memorising his Koran lessons, his fellow students told the police.Atif, seven, was hung upside down from a ceiling fan by Maulvi Ziauddin for not memorising his Koran lessons, his fellow students told the police.
Afterwards, the teacher beat him up with a baton to stop him from crying, an eyewitness told BBC.Afterwards, the teacher beat him up with a baton to stop him from crying, an eyewitness told BBC.
The autopsy report says Atif died due to physical violence and suffocation.The autopsy report says Atif died due to physical violence and suffocation.
Human rights organisation say Pakistani children are often exposed to abuse.Human rights organisation say Pakistani children are often exposed to abuse.
'Too weak''Too weak'
The police in Vehari town arrested Maulvi Ziauddin on Thursday and produced him before a court where he confessed to his role in Atif's death.The police in Vehari town arrested Maulvi Ziauddin on Thursday and produced him before a court where he confessed to his role in Atif's death.
Maulvi Ziauddin told the police he had punished students in other seminaries in a similar manner in the past, but Atif proved too weak to withstand it, Inspector Mohammad Afzal of Vehari police told the BBC.Maulvi Ziauddin told the police he had punished students in other seminaries in a similar manner in the past, but Atif proved too weak to withstand it, Inspector Mohammad Afzal of Vehari police told the BBC.
The Maulana said he left Atif hanging from the fan for half an hour on Wednesday. The teacher said he left Atif hanging from the fan for half an hour on Wednesday.
Amir was witness to the assault on his cousin, AtifAmir was witness to the assault on his cousin, Atif
He told the police he tried all night to bring Atif back to consciousness, but failed.He told the police he tried all night to bring Atif back to consciousness, but failed.
Mohammad Atif's cousin, Mohammad Amir, who was an eyewitness to the assault, told the BBC that Atif was in bad shape when a worshipper in the seminary brought him down.Mohammad Atif's cousin, Mohammad Amir, who was an eyewitness to the assault, told the BBC that Atif was in bad shape when a worshipper in the seminary brought him down.
"He was hysterical, and shouting. Qari sahib (Maulana Ziauddin) started beating him with his baton, after which Atif fell silent. Then Qari sahib laid him down in a separate room and put a padlock on the door. "He was hysterical, and shouting. Qari sahib (Maulvi Ziauddin) started beating him with his baton, after which Atif fell silent. Then Qari sahib laid him down in a separate room and put a padlock on the door.
"On Thursday afternoon, Qari sahib gave me the key of the lock and went away. When I opened the door, I found Atif dead.""On Thursday afternoon, Qari sahib gave me the key of the lock and went away. When I opened the door, I found Atif dead."
The son of a farm labourer, Atif lived in the seminary with about 20 other students, including his cousin, Mohammad Amir.The son of a farm labourer, Atif lived in the seminary with about 20 other students, including his cousin, Mohammad Amir.
In a report published in January, Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) - an organisation which monitors and compiles cases of child abuse and kidnapping - said children in Pakistan were increasingly exposed to abuse, kidnapping and violence.In a report published in January, Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) - an organisation which monitors and compiles cases of child abuse and kidnapping - said children in Pakistan were increasingly exposed to abuse, kidnapping and violence.
The number of reported cases involving children has more than doubled from 617 in 2006 to 1,595 last year, the report said.The number of reported cases involving children has more than doubled from 617 in 2006 to 1,595 last year, the report said.
It blamed poor law enforcement and old social attitudes towards children's rights as some of the reasons for the problem.It blamed poor law enforcement and old social attitudes towards children's rights as some of the reasons for the problem.