Kot Addu police arrest suspect after alleged assault on child

Police in Punjab’s Kot Addu district have arrested a suspect following the reported sexual assault of a three-year-old girl, with officials saying the man was traced through CCTV footage within two hours. The child remains under treatment at Nishtar Hospital in Multan after being transferred there in critical condition.

The incident was reported within the jurisdiction of City Police Station in Chowk Sarwar Shaheed tehsil. According to the initial police account, the suspect worked as a street vegetable vendor in the area and allegedly took the child away before assaulting her.

The girl had gone outside to play and did not return, prompting her family to begin searching for her. The first information report, registered on her father’s complaint, states that relatives heard the child crying near a house and found her with the suspect, who allegedly fled when the family arrived.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz confirmed the arrest in a social-media statement and condemned the alleged crime as heartbreaking. She said CCTV recordings enabled investigators to identify and locate the suspect shortly after the case was reported.

Police registered the case following the complaint from the child’s father in Chak 571 TDA. Investigators said a medical examination supported the allegation of sexual assault, while the child was moved to the Multan hospital for specialised treatment and monitoring.

The arrest represents the initial stage of the criminal process and does not establish guilt, which must be determined by a court after evidence is examined. Investigators will be responsible for preserving surveillance recordings, medical findings, witness accounts and other material needed to support the prosecution.

The case has renewed attention on the vulnerability of young children and the importance of rapid reporting when a child goes missing, even for a short period. CCTV footage can help establish movements and identify suspects, but timely police coordination and the preservation of evidence remain essential to an effective investigation.

Protecting the identity and dignity of the child is equally important as proceedings continue. Public discussion of such cases requires restraint, particularly when sharing images, names or information that could expose a minor survivor and cause further harm to the family.

The affected family had appealed to provincial authorities for intervention and accountability before confirmation of the arrest. Police have said the investigation remains underway, with the next steps expected to include further questioning, completion of the evidentiary record and presentation of the case through the judicial process.