Child domestic work: Couple arrested for torturing eight-year-old

Police say Ameen and Samina had paid Rs20,000 for Amina eight months ago

LAHORE: Police arrested a man and his wife on Tuesday for allegedly torturing an eight-year-old girl working as a maid in their house in Sabzazar.

Police said Ameen and Samina used to beat up Amina with a water-heating rod. Police said they had raided the house and freed Amina after they were informed by neighbours about the torture.

Sabzazar SHO Atif Zulfiqar told The Express Tribune that there were bruises and burn marks on Amina’s head, face and body.

“During initial interrogation, the couple confessed to beating the girl. However, they denied burning her with cigarettes or a water-heating rod,” he said.

“They have told us that they had paid Rs20,000 for the orphan girl to a woman, resident of Millat Park, eight months ago. We have arrested the woman as well,” he said.

Amina was handed over to the Child Protection Bureau.

Police said a case would be registered on the complaint of the bureau.

Operations DIG Dr Haider Ashraf said: “An official circular has been forwarded to all divisional SPs for taking special measures for protection of such children and taking immediate action whenever they receive information about people torturing children hired as domestic help.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2015.