In the Chaliyar area of Khwazakhela tehsil in Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a 14-year-old student named Farhan Ayaz was brutally beaten by madrassa Mukhzin ul Uloom teachers over absenteeism. The child died due to the severe torture inflicted by three teachers at an unregistered madrasa. He was later shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.
According to a spokesperson of Swat Police Moin Fayaz said that we registered an FIR against three individuals involved in the incident. The accused include a teacher named Muhammad Umar, his son Ihsanullah, and another teacher, Abdullah. One of the suspects, Qari Abdullah, has been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the father and son.
Following the incident, the victim’s family and residents held a protest in Khwazakhela, blocking the main road for several hours. The protest ended after negotiations with Assistant Commissioner Khwazakhela, Luqman Khan. A separate demonstration was also held in Matta tehsil, where hundreds of people demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and justice for the child, blocking the main road to traffic for two hours.
Assistant Commissioner Luqman Khan sealed the unregistered madrassa Mukhzin ul Uloom, citing its illegal status, and announced action against other unregistered seminaries in the area. Luqman Khan said that the madrasa where the tragic incident took place was sealed to ensure public safety, uphold the rule of law, and provide justice to the bereaved family. He added that this action was also meant to prevent such horrifying incidents in the future. He further mentioned that coordination with other law enforcement agencies is ongoing for additional legal proceedings.
The victim’s family accused the madrassa Mukhzin ul Uloom teachers of routinely harassing students. “Farhan had complained several times, but we didn’t take him seriously,” a family member said. They also criticised the FIR for naming only three individuals, claiming that two more people were involved and should be investigated. “It’s been 24 hours since the incident, and the main suspect is still at large. Police have failed to arrest him,” they added.
Mulana Siddique Ahmed, former coordinator of Wafaq-ul-Madaris in the Malakand Division, said that we condemn the incident, calling it deeply tragic and shameful. “Beating a student to death over absenteeism is horrifying,” he said. He demanded strict action against the culprits and emphasised that Islam teaches love, compassion, and kindness—not violence. “If a child struggles to learn, he should be treated with more patience and care,” he added.
He also highlighted that the number of madrasas in Swat is high, but very few are registered. “This particular madrasa was also unregistered,” he confirmed. He called for mandatory registration of all religious schools and urged that unregistered institutions be shut down immediately.
The Human Rights organisations expressed strong anger and sorrow over the brutal beating and killing of a madrasa student in Khwazakhela.
Advocate Samreen Hakeem said that the members of Ewaji Alliance would visit the bereaved family to offer condolences and provide all possible moral and legal support. She urged the authorities to ensure that the perpetrators receive the harshest possible punishment. She also emphasised that it is the responsibility of child protection institutions to take effective measures to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.