Abusing domestic staff: Two women accuse employer’s relatives of physical assault

Say they were attacked by his brother who is involved in a property dispute with his sibling.


Our Correspondent October 31, 2014

ABBOTABAD: Two domestic staff members in a Haripur village accused their employer’s brother and other family members of physical assault.

Speaking at the Abbottabad Electronic Media office on Friday, Shafqatunnisa shared she was employed at the house of Advocate Sardar Aman in Talokar. The thirty-year-old said she worked there with her 16-year-old sister-in-law Misbah Bibi and two other women.



Shafqatunnisa said on October 15 the women were dusting the house when Aman’s brother Major (retd) Sardar Azam and his relatives entered the property, asking them to leave. The party claimed the house belonged to Azam, not Aman.

When the staff refused, Azam and his family members attacked them with clubs, she said. “They beat us mercilessly; they fractured my nose,” said Shafqatunnisa, pointing at her wounds and bruises. Those were just the apparent injuries, she added. “They also tore my clothes and dragged us women to the street.”

Sharing the medical report of the injuries inflicted on her and Misbah Bibi, Shafqatunnisa said she attempted to lodge an FIR at the city police station in Haripur, but the police refused to register the case. Since the attackers have influence, she added, the police were using delaying tactics to register the FIR.

The victims demanded the chief minister and IGP intervene and help them pursue justice.

Fighting over inheritance

When approached for comments, police confirmed Shafqatunnisa lodged a complaint but claimed the medical examination carried out at Haripur hospital reveals neither visible nor internal injuries to either of the women.

The SHO said there was a long-standing dispute between brothers Aman and Azam over the inheritance of the house where the women claim to have been assaulted. Both sides are litigants in a case on the ownership of the property for some years, he said.

Azam also lodged a complaint with the city police station, accusing his brother Aman and his employee Shafqatunnisa for attacking and injuring him when he was in the same house. According to the SHO, the police started investigating the matter and will file an FIR after consulting the legal branch.

Taking notice of the story which was also reported on electronic media, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has directed the Hazara DIG to submit a report to his office.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2014.

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