Story By: Aloysius Fernandes, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN

A Muslim cleric has been arrested for beating his students with a hosepipe because they had missed religious classes.

Following the incident in the city of Hyderabad in the southern Pakistani province of Sindh, the religious scholar – identified as Shabir Ahmed – was arrested and slammed for “violence against children”.

In the video footage, the Quran teacher is seen standing in a mosque while asking a young boy to hold out his hand.

With the length of hosepipe raised above his head, Ahmed brings it down hard on the boy’s hand and the youngster doubles over in pain.

Shortly afterwards, he is reportedly advised to not be so harsh on the children by another mosque attendee.

In the next scene, Ahmed is seen whipping the hand of a young man standing by a doorway.

Ahmed gives the man two lashes before he recoils and the Muslim cleric follows him into the room to ‘punish’ him some more.

Picture Credits: CEN

The camera then pans to the small boy, who is seen nursing his stinging hand.

According to reports, Ahmed was arrested by the cops for assaulting his religious students.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that he was aware of the incident and requested that the local authorities launch an investigation.

He also urged the education department to offer counselling services in collaboration with the Council of Islamic Ideology.

Shah added: “Violence against children is unacceptable.”