The rape and murder of Zainab Ansari sent far-reaching shockwaves across Pakistan after the eight-year-old's body was found at a rubbish tip in eastern Pubjab on Tuesday.
Protests in Lahore, Karachi and Kasur, east Punjab – where she lived - spilled over into violence as police, accused of not doing enough to find the child or her abductor, attempted to contain public outrage.
Police said eight girls have been sexually assaulted in the region in recent months, and are investigating whether there is a connection between the cases.
What happened to Zainab?
Zainab disappeared as she walked to her religious studies class on 4 January. Her parents were on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at the time and the child was believed to be staying with relatives.
The child was captured on CCTV holding a man’s hand as she walked away from her home.
Her body was found at a rubbish tip more than a mile away from her home in Kasur, Pakistan, on Tuesday.
Police said she has been raped and strangled to death.
What has reaction been?
News of the girl’s death provoked widespread outrage in Kasur and further afield.
Zainab’s parents claimed police “didn’t do anything” to find her after she was reported missing.
Her father, Ameen Ansari, said: “My relatives and neighbours told me that the police used to come, have food and leave.
“While they didn’t do anything, my friends and family spent day and night looking for my daughter.”
Anger at the state’s handling of the investigation erupted into violence on Wednesday, as protesters attacked the police station and government buildings while others threw rocks and smashed car windows with sticks.
Two protesters died in the unrest and dozens more were injured.
Four police officers have since been arrested for firing into crowds in Kasur but the state has not confirmed whether the deaths are linked.
Hours later, thousands flocked to pay their respects at a funeral service held for the child in the city.
Why has this case caused such widespread outrage?
Zainab was the eighth minor to have been raped and murdered in Kasur in the past year, according to police.
An average of 11 cases of child sexual abuse are reported from across Pakistan every day, according to data compiled by child protection charity Sahil.
A total of 1,764 cases of child abuse were reported from across the country in the first six months of 2017 alone, the figures show, and the problem of child sexual abuse is something that has been repeatedly raised by charities and child safety campaigners.
More than 60 per cent of the reported cases were from the Punjab, the charity found.
Cricket star and politician Imran Khan highlighted the problem, tweeting: “The condemnable & horrific rape & murder of little Zainab exposes once again how vulnerable our children are in our society.
“This is not the first time such horrific acts have happened. We have to act swiftly to punish the guilty & ensure that our children are better protected.”
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai said she was “heartbroken” by the news, adding: “This has to stop. Gov and the concerned authorities must take action.”
