Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited the family of five-year-old Ayat Noor, who was raped and murdered in Haripur, expressing condolences and assuring her grieving family of the provincial government’s full support.
During the emotional visit, Afridi met Ayat Noor’s father and offered prayers for the deceased child. The chief minister became emotional during the meeting, hugged her father and attempted to console the bereaved family.
Local MPA and Provincial Information Minister Shafi Jan were also present during the visit.
Afridi said the tragedy had affected the entire province and expressed solidarity with Ayat Noor’s family. He told her father that the child was not only his daughter but also a daughter of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The chief minister also presented the family with a cheque worth Rs10 million as financial assistance.
CM promises government support
Afridi assured the family that the provincial government would provide its full support in pursuing the case.
He strongly condemned the brutal crime against the five-year-old and said there would be no negligence in dealing with those responsible.
The chief minister vowed that the people involved in the crime would face severe punishment.
Afridi said the punishment should be strong enough to deter others from committing similar crimes against children.
He also appealed to the courts not to provide relief to those accused in the case, stressing the seriousness of the allegations and the need for accountability.
Afridi questions administration and police
During his meeting with Ayat Noor’s father, the chief minister questioned the effectiveness of government institutions if children could not remain safe.
Afridi said the administration and police have a responsibility to protect citizens, particularly children, from violence and abuse.
He warned that officials must take responsibility for ensuring public safety and said that if children cannot remain safe under the protection of the administration and police, questions would naturally arise over the functioning of these institutions.
The chief minister reiterated his commitment to taking action against those responsible for the tragedy.
Child Protection Bill to carry Ayat Noor’s name
Afridi also announced that the provincial government would name its Child Protection Bill after Ayat Noor.
The move is intended to keep the young victim’s memory connected with efforts to strengthen child protection measures in the province.
The chief minister also announced that Swat Chowk would be renamed after Ayat Noor as a tribute to the five-year-old.
The announcements came during the emotional meeting with her father and were presented as part of the government’s response to the tragedy.
Afridi said the case would not be ignored and that the government would continue supporting the family.
Father demands harshest punishment
Ayat Noor’s father thanked the chief minister, the provincial government and others who had expressed support for his family following the tragedy.
He said people from different sections of society had stood with him during the difficult period.
However, his primary demand remained justice for his daughter.
The grieving father called for the harshest possible punishment for the person responsible for Ayat Noor’s death.
He specifically demanded that the actual culprit be publicly executed, reflecting the anger and grief surrounding the case.
Calls for stronger child protection
The case has renewed concerns about the safety of children and the need for stronger mechanisms to protect them from abuse and violence.
The provincial government’s decision to name the Child Protection Bill after Ayat Noor is expected to keep attention focused on child safety and institutional responsibility.
The chief minister’s visit also highlighted the government’s stated commitment to supporting the family and pursuing punishment for those responsible.
For Ayat Noor’s family, however, the financial assistance and official assurances cannot erase the loss of their child. Her father continues to seek justice and the strictest punishment for the person responsible for her death.
The provincial government now faces the task of ensuring that its promises translate into effective legal action and stronger safeguards for children across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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