Bajaur Teen Suicide After Harassment Incident

Zahid Jan 

Bajaur: A 13-year-old girl from the Tali area of Salarzai Tehsil in Bajaur district allegedly committed suicide after facing harassment and subsequent taunts. 

The deceased, Seema* (name changed to protect her identity), daughter of Shah Khan*, consumed poison after being harassed and taunted by locals.

According to Seema’s father, she and a friend were at Tali Dam when an unidentified person in a black car attempted to harass them.

Although the attempt failed, bystanders began taunting the girls, leading Seema* to ingest poison out of distress. 

She was initially taken to District Headquarters Hospital in Khar Bajaur and later shifed to Peshawar for further treatment, but she did not survive.

Shah* expressed his grief, saying, “Despite our extreme poverty, I tried hard to save her life but couldn’t.”

During Seema’s funeral, police officers expressed their intent to register an FIR and asked Shah* to name the individuals involved. However, he stated that identifying the culprits is the responsibility of the government and the police.

Imran Takkar, a child rights activist, emphasized the importance of filing an FIR in such cases, suggesting that provisions related to sexual abuse, child protection, harassment, and rape should be included. He also highlighted the necessity of conducting a post-mortem to support the investigation and ensure justice.

SHO Saeedul Rehman of Salarzai police station stated that an initial report has been filed under Section 174 PCC and that a thorough investigation will be conducted to identify and apprehend the real culprits. 

The post-mortem will be part of this process, he added.

The incident has caused widespread grief and outrage in the local community. Residents have condemned the cruelty faced by Seema* and called for the immediate arrest and punishment of those responsible. 

They also lamented the negative impact on the area’s reputation.

Names have been changed to protect their identities.