Child protection: CPWB rescues child maid from ‘abusive’ mistress

FAISALABAD:

The Child Protection and Welfare Bureau has taken into custody a child who was working as a maid in a house at Hameed Chowk, Jaranwala Road, Faisalabad.

Child Protection Officer Ali Abid Naqvi said Ghulam Fatima, 9, was employed as a house maid at Samia Bibi’s house. He said two months ago, Samia Bibi sent Ghulam Fatima to work at her daughter Maryam’s house in Sahiwal. There, Maryam had badly beaten up Ghulam Fatima for botching up some household errands, he said. Although Ghulam Fatima was then sent back to Faisalabad, her condition worsened, he said. Ghulam Fatima’s family told media representatives about the treatment meted out to their daughter. CPWB Director General Fatima Sheikh took notice of the media report and directed the CPWB Faisalabad district officer to take the girl in to custody.

Naqvi said CPWB officials took the girl to a hospital for treatment. Doctors treating her said her body carried burn marks, where Maryam had allegedly scorched the skin with an iron. They said she had also hit Ghulam Fatima on the head.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2016.