ISLAMABAD, Jun 1: In a disturbing case of school violence, a 10-year-old Pakistani student, Khyalmat Khan, died after being brutally assaulted by his headmaster over what police described as a "minor issue." The incident occurred during a morning assembly on Friday at a private school in Pakistan’s Khyber district.

According to local authorities, Headmaster Waqar Ahmed used a rod to strike the child repeatedly on the head, neck, face, and back. The boy was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

Police arrested Ahmed at the scene. He remains in custody as investigations continue. Khyber District Police Officer Rai Mazhar Iqbal condemned the killing, stating, “Violence against children and women will not be tolerated under any circumstances. A teacher is meant to be a spiritual guardian, not a figure of brutality.”

The killing has sparked outrage across the region, with grieving parents and child rights advocates calling for an immediate ban on corporal punishment in schools. The incident has reignited debate over the effectiveness of existing protections for children, despite a landmark 2021 law in Islamabad outlawing violence against minors.

Pakistan has witnessed several high-profile cases in recent years involving the abuse and deaths of children in schools, homes, and workplaces. Among them: the 2021 death of an 8-year-old boy beaten by a teacher for not memorizing a lesson, and the 2020 killing of a young girl, also aged 8, who was tortured by her employers for accidentally letting pet parrots escape.

As the investigation into Khyalmat’s death unfolds, pressure is mounting on authorities to enforce stricter protections for vulnerable children and ensure accountability within educational institutions.