The dead body of a minor Hindu girl was found hanging from the neck in a bungalow located in Khayaban-e-Bukhari, DHA, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The Hindu girl was named Maria, but lovingly called Paaria; the 16-year-old was from Tando Haider, Hyderabad. She worked as a maid at the home of a Muslim physician who lived in the bungalow.

Based on initial reports, Maria’s dead body was found on 12 May 2024, which prompted immediate inquiries into the circumstances behind her untimely death. Post-mortem investigations have reportedly found clear evidence of both sexual assault and murder, refuting the doctor’s original suggestion that the patient committed suicide.

In this case, Dr. Feroz Khan and Inayat Khan are the accused. Although the latter allegedly reported to the authorities that Maria had committed suicide, the results of the autopsy have raised serious charges of rape and murder against him and his accomplice.

There can be an increasing demand for justice from various societal segments as the investigation progresses. The sad tragedy has rekindled discussions about safeguarding vulnerable individuals regardless of their ethnic or religious background.