A three-year-old girl was found dead in Karachi’s Quaidabad area after she was allegedly abducted from near her home, prompting authorities to launch a high-level investigation into the case.

The victim, identified as Kulsoom Bibi, went missing at around noon on Tuesday, according to her father, who said he spent hours searching for her across the neighbourhood.

Speaking to media, the grieving father said he used a motorcycle-mounted loudspeaker to appeal for information about his daughter after she disappeared.

He said that upon returning to his street around sunset, he found a crowd gathered outside his home and was informed that Kulsoom’s body had been discovered stuffed inside a sack.

Police have registered a case at Quaidabad police station on the complaint of the victim’s father.

The FIR includes charges of kidnapping, sexual assault and murder.

The incident has drawn the attention of senior provincial police officials.

Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Inspector General of Police Sindh Javed Alam Odho and Additional IG Karachi have taken notice of the case and ordered a comprehensive investigation.

A high-level inquiry committee headed by the DIG East has been constituted to examine all aspects of the incident.

The committee includes officials from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), Malir police, Special Branch and the investigation wing.

IG Sindh said all available resources had been directed towards identifying and arresting those responsible for the crime at the earliest.

Police said the investigation is underway and efforts are being made to trace and apprehend the suspects.