Police say Tauqeer Nazir, accused of running over orphaned teenager Waseem Abbas in Multan, was killed in an alleged Crime Control Department encounter near Bahawalpur after reportedly escaping custody.

MULTAN, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK, October 21, 2026: Tauqeer Nazir, the main suspect in the killing of orphaned teenager Waseem Abbas in Multan, has been killed in an alleged encounter with Punjab’s Crime Control Department (CCD) near Bahawalpur, according to police officials and media reports.

The development comes after the suspect was reportedly found to have escaped police custody while on physical remand in the murder case.

Police Describe Encounter Near Bahawalpur

According to CCD District Officer Irfan Akbar, a police team attempted to stop two men riding a motorcycle near Bahawalpur’s Northern Bypass. The men allegedly opened fire while attempting to flee, triggering an exchange of gunfire.

The CCD official said Tauqeer was struck by bullets fired by his accomplice and died during the encounter. The second man reportedly escaped from the scene.

Authorities have not publicly clarified all the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s reported escape from custody.

Suspect Was on Physical Remand

Tauqeer had been handed over to police by a judicial magistrate in Multan for questioning over Waseem Abbas’s death. Reports differ on the precise length of the remand, with the original 24NewsHD report stating four days while other reporting by Dawn described a three-day remand.

The suspect was also reportedly assaulted by lawyers when he appeared before the court on October 20.

A second suspect, identified as Amjad, was already wanted in connection with the teenager’s death.

What Happened to Waseem Abbas?

Waseem Abbas, an orphaned teenager reported to be around 14 to 15 years old, was killed in Multan’s Royal Orchard Housing Society. Police said he had been living at an NGO-run orphanage before beginning work as an apprentice electrician.

According to police accounts, the teenager reportedly wanted to leave the job because of alleged mistreatment. He was allegedly pursued in a car after fleeing his workplace and struck by the vehicle.

CCTV footage reportedly showed the boy running before being hit by the car. Police said their initial investigation found no evidence that Waseem had been involved in theft.

A murder case was registered against the suspects under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Questions Remain Over Custody and Accountability

The reported death of the main suspect raises questions about how he allegedly escaped custody while on remand and the circumstances surrounding the subsequent encounter. These issues require clarification from the relevant authorities.

The second suspect remains at large, according to the available reports. Further investigation is needed to establish the full sequence of events and determine accountability in the teenager’s killing and the reported custody escape.