Multan: A court on Tuesday remanded a contractor in police custody for four days after he allegedly chased and ran over a 15 year old boy who was trying to leave his workplace.

Waseem Abbas died at the scene after suffering a severe head injury. Police arrested contractor Tauqeer Nazir, seized the vehicle and registered a murder case naming him and Amjad Ali, who allegedly escaped.

Waseem had lived at an orphanage for five years. Its general secretary, Shoaib Haider, said the facility had sent him to Tauqeer six days earlier because he wanted to learn electrical work.

The FIR, registered on Monday at DHA police station, alleges that Waseem wanted to leave because the suspects had subjected him to violence and threatened his life.

According to the report, Sub Inspector Liaquat Ali Bhatti was patrolling Royal Orchard with other personnel when Waseem’s cousin, Mukhtiar Ahmed, approached them at around 4:35 pm and reported the alleged abuse and threats.

The FIR states that police then saw Waseem running in fear, with a Honda car following him. It alleges that the suspects deliberately drove into him, causing fatal injuries.

Two residents, Saqlain Raza and Syed Naseem Abbas, were named as witnesses. According to the FIR, they told police that Waseem had passed them shortly before the incident and said he was running to save his life.

Police said Tauqeer was apprehended at the scene after the occupants attempted to flee, while Amjad escaped. Waseem’s body was taken to Nishtar Hospital for a post mortem examination.

The case invokes Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, concerning murder, and Section 34, concerning acts carried out by several people in furtherance of a common intention. The allegations remain subject to investigation and trial.

Judicial Magistrate Saadia Aslam authorised Tauqeer’s four days of physical remand. Lawyers assaulted him outside the courtroom despite the presence of police.

Haider said the orphanage had made inquiries about Tauqeer before sending Waseem to him. The contractor had a team of around 40 to 45 boys, he said, although their ages were not specified in the report.

According to Haider, Tauqeer claimed that he followed Waseem in his car and that the vehicle slipped. Haider disputed that explanation, saying the video footage appeared to show the boy being struck deliberately.

He said the orphanage had received no earlier complaints against the contractor. Another boy from the facility who had been working with Tauqeer was brought back after Waseem’s death.

Waseem’s cousin Nadeem, who also lived at the orphanage, said the boy had expressed reluctance to go for training and wanted to return home. He said Waseem had not returned to the orphanage since leaving to learn the trade.

Waseem’s uncle, Jafar Hussain, said the boy’s father died nine years ago. His grandfather initially supported him, and Hussain subsequently cared for him for two to three years before relatives arranged his admission to the orphanage.

His grandfather said he had wanted Waseem to receive an education rather than struggle on the streets. Both demanded justice.

Waseem’s funeral prayers were held at around 2 am in Mouza Daulatpur, attended by close relatives and orphanage officials, before his burial in the ancestral graveyard.