HARIPUR, Pakistan, Aug. 25, 2026 — Police in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have arrested four suspects in connection with the disappearance and death of five-year-old Ayat Noor, whose body was recovered from a dry well in Haripur 15 days after she went missing.

The case has triggered grief and anger in the district, with residents staging protests in recent days and demanding the recovery of the missing child and punishment for those responsible.

Police said the investigation is continuing and that forensic evidence, including DNA analysis and a post-mortem examination, will help establish the circumstances surrounding the child's death.

Child disappeared after going out to play

Ayat Noor disappeared from her home in Haripur on Aug. 10, according to police and her family. Her father, Muhammad Shafiq, who works at a bakery, told police that he returned home from work around sunset that day and was informed by his wife that Ayat had gone outside to play at about 5:30 p.m. but had not returned. The family immediately began searching for her and contacted police. A missing-person case was registered the same day on the complaint of her father. Shafiq said Ayat was his only daughter and that she would normally wait for him to return from work. "She was my only daughter. When I came home from work, she would run towards me, ask what I had brought for her and then ask for my mobile phone," he said. He said he had brought items for her on the evening she disappeared but was devastated to discover that she was not at home.

Body recovered after 15 days

The search for Ayat continued for two weeks, with police and local authorities checking a number of areas around Haripur. On Aug. 24, police recovered the girl's body from a deep, dry well near University Road after one of the suspects allegedly provided information about its location. The recovery brought an end to a search that had involved hundreds of police personnel and teams from municipal and sanitation authorities. Ayat's funeral prayers were held on Tuesday morning, with a large number of residents attending. Her father, visibly distressed, called for justice and demanded severe punishment for those responsible for his daughter's death.

Four suspects arrested

Haripur police said four people have been arrested in connection with the case. One of the suspects is under the age of 18. According to a statement issued by the office of District Police Officer Shafiullah Gandapur, one suspect allegedly confessed before a court to abducting and sexually assaulting the child. Police said the alleged confession has been recorded as part of the judicial proceedings, but stressed that the investigation remains underway and that the allegations will also be assessed through medical and forensic evidence. The police have subsequently added sections of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to murder, kidnapping of a child under 14 and rape to the case.

CCTV footage played key role in investigation

Police said investigators used modern investigative and forensic techniques to trace the child and identify suspects. Authorities obtained and reviewed footage from around 200 CCTV cameras installed in different parts of the area. According to police, footage from 12 cameras proved particularly useful in establishing the girl's movements after she left her home and identifying people allegedly involved in taking her away. Investigators also obtained records linked to 20 suspicious telephone numbers and examined their movements and connections. Police said one suspect was arrested on Aug. 21, followed by two more arrests on Aug. 22. A motorcycle allegedly used in the incident was also recovered.

Search operation involved more than 400 police officers

The search operation was expanded after investigators gathered technical evidence about the possible movements of the suspects. Police said more than 400 officers and personnel took part in the search, alongside teams from the Town Municipal Administration and Water and Sanitation authorities. Search teams examined drains, sewerage channels, areas covered by dense vegetation, vacant plots and abandoned locations. They also searched areas surrounding the University of Haripur, nearby industrial land, Pathan Colony and other locations considered relevant to the investigation. Despite the extensive operation, the girl's body was not located until a suspect allegedly identified the well.

Investigation faced challenges involving minors

Police officials said investigators faced several challenges during the case because some of the suspects were minors. According to police, some of the suspects did not possess identity cards and therefore did not have mobile SIM cards registered in their own names. Investigators subsequently examined telephone records belonging to family members and other people connected to the suspects. Police said analysis of these records, combined with CCTV footage and other technical evidence, helped investigators identify and arrest the suspect whose information ultimately led them to the location of Ayat's body.

Forensic evidence awaited

Investigating officer Shafiq-ur-Rehman said the investigation was still in progress. He said samples had been collected for DNA testing and that the post-mortem examination report would be important in determining the exact cause and circumstances of the girl's death. Police said the allegations of sexual assault and murder would be established through medical evidence, forensic analysis and the judicial process. The authorities have also continued questioning the arrested suspects to determine whether others were involved.

Family says it had no known dispute

Ayat's father said his family had no known dispute with anyone and that he could not understand why anyone would harm his daughter. He described the 15-day search as extremely painful and said the recovery of her body had left the family devastated. Following the funeral, he again appealed to authorities to ensure that all those responsible were prosecuted and punished according to law.

Public anger and demands for justice

Ayat's disappearance had generated widespread concern in Haripur, with local residents holding protests and demanding that police intensify the search. The recovery of the child's body has further intensified calls for accountability and stronger protection for children. The case has also drawn attention to the role of CCTV surveillance, mobile-phone analysis and coordinated search operations in investigating missing-child cases.

Chief minister promises action

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed grief over Ayat's death and said those responsible would face the full force of the law. Police have said the investigation will continue until all aspects of the case are established. The final cause of death and other key details are expected to become clearer once the post-mortem and DNA reports are completed.