The body of a 16-year-old girl, identified as Areeba, was found in a narrow alley near her home in Karachi’s Malir Khokhrapar area on Thursday. Police have confirmed she was tortured before being strangled to death. The case, registered under murder charges at the Khokhrapar police station on a complaint by Areeba’s father, Muhammad Ahmed, has left the community horrified at the tragic news.

According to Muhammad Ahmed, a popcorn vendor, he had left home with his younger daughter, locking the house behind them, while Areeba was at her uncle Mustafa Hussain’s residence. Upon returning at 3:30 PM, neighbors informed him of a girl’s body in the alley. He identified the body as Areeba’s, noting a scarf tied around her neck, injuries on her face and head, and blood on her cheeks and lips. The body was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for a postmortem, which revealed evidence of sexual assault, though the final report is yet to come.

Police have detained three suspects, including two brothers, based on suspicions raised by Areeba’s father. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities awaiting forensic results to confirm the cause of death and further details.