The death of 15-year-old Muhammad Waseem Abbas in Multan prompted an outpouring of grief and anger on social media, with Pakistani celebrities and public figures calling for justice and questioning the failure to protect a vulnerable child.
Many actors Yumna Zaidi, Mishi Khan, Ahsan Khan, Sehar Khan and Faizan Sheikh and more also reacted to the tragedy, which has also drawn great attention to the safety of children that institutions sent away from institutional care to learn various vocational skills.
The incident has renewed concerns about vulnerable children's treatment, the responsibilities of those whom adults entrust with their care and the need for accountability when allegations of violence emerge.
According to police, Waseem, a young orphan, lived at an orphanage that a non-governmental organisation ran. A local contractor, Tauqeer Nazir, who was carrying out work at a private housing society in Multan, had reportedly sent him to learn electrical work.
Police said Waseem had been working with the contractor for approximately a week before the incident.
On October 17, following an argument related to work, the teenager allegedly attempted to leave. Investigators said the contractor pursued him in a car and struck him, causing fatal injuries. CCTV footage reportedly showed the boy running away before the vehicle hit him.
Waseem sustained a severe head injury and died at the scene, according to rescue officials whom news reports cited.
Police arrested Nazir and registered a murder case against him and another suspect, they identified as Amjad Ali. Investigators also questioned members of the orphanage administration as they examined the circumstances in which someone sent Waseem to work.
The case still requires full investigation, and the criminal legal process must determine all allegations against the two suspects.
Actor Yumna Zaidi was among the celebrities reacting to Waseem's death, sharing a response on her Instagram stories as the news of the incident spread.
"Fear of Allah? The consequences will be harsh. So do not oppress the orphan. Ad. Duhaa verse. 9", she wrote.
Veteran actor and television host Mishi Khan also expressed anger over the alleged circumstances surrounding the teenager's death. In an Instagram post, she wrote, “Why didn’t he stop the monster who was driving?? And what was the reason that the kid ran from their workplace ?? Our investigation standard needs reforms as there are many glitches".
Her reaction reflected the anger that many social media users felt, who have called for accountability and questioned how a child whom adults entrusted to vocational training could find himself in such circumstances.
Actor Ahsan Khan also stressed justice on the matter, taking to his story to add: "True justice demands that the legal system reject all excuses and hold the killer fully acountable under the law to signal that the powerful cannot ever discard the lives of all the weak".
Actor Faizan Sheikh also commented on the state of law and order in the country, writing to his story: "A new low everyday!"
Seher Khan continued, "Honestly, I can't wrap my head around the kind of cruelty people are capable of. This world is becoming so difficult to process".
Actor Faiza Khan further expressed his sentiments to add, "This is what happens in a country where there is no rule of law".
The reactions have added to a broader conversation about the responsibilities of adults and institutions that take on the care of children, particularly those who lack the financial security or family support they need to protect their interests.
The circumstances of Waseem's case have also prompted questions about how institutions select children for placements, whether they monitor their working conditions and what procedures exist for responding when a child reports mistreatment or attempts to leave a workplace.
Police have said they are investigating the case, including the roles of the suspects and the circumstances surrounding Waseem's placement. The investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings will need to fully address all these questions.
As the investigation continues, a greater demand accompanies the calls for justice: that adults who always take on the care of children must never leave them without protection, oversight or a means of seeking help.
