"Residents of the area and the victim's family members took to the streets to protest the gruesome murder. A complete strike was also observed in Chichawatni," reported local Dawn News.

Demanding justice, the agitating residents were seen holding banners in their hands and raising slogans.

The eight-year-old victim had gone missing from her Chichawatni residence since Sunday.

She had left her home to buy some sweets and did not return, reports said.

She was later found in an unconscious condition with burns all over her body.

The victim was initially taken to Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital.

However, she was later moved to Jinnah Hospital in Lahore for treatment.

Dawn News quoted doctors as saying that the girl had experienced 70 to 80 per cent burns and died during treatment on Monday.

Her post-mortem is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

Sahiwal District Police Officer Mohammad Atif Ikram told Dawn News that police had filed a case and took a suspect into custody.

He told the Pakistan-based newspaper that a murder case has been filed and rape charges will be added after receiving the forensic report.

Reminder of Zainab Tragedy

People in Pakistan were left horrified in January when six-year-old Zainab was abducted, raped and then murdered in Kasur area of the country.

Kasur witnessed protest after body of Zainab was found in a garbage heap.

Politicians from different political parties have condemned the incident.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC), which was hearing the rape and murder case of seven-year-old Zainab, gave death sentence to Imran Ali Naqshbandi  in its verdict in February.