SC gives 'tortured' child maid's custody to orphanage till identification of parents

Top court adjourns hearing of the case till January 18

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave custody of 10-year-old 'tortured' child maid Tayyaba to an orphanage till the identity of her true parents is established.

During the hearing of the case, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar ruled that Tayyaba be sent to Pakistan Sweet Homes, an orphanage, till her parents are identified. "We have to overcome her fear, only she can tell us the truth," the CJP said.



Tayyaba, made headlines after being allegedly tortured at the residence of an additional district and sessions judge in Islamabad.

"We must find the truth of why this unfortunate incident took place," Justice Nisar said. "The investigation must be conducted in a fair and transparent manner," he added.

"Further questions regarding the identity of the girl should be asked from NADRA and further explanations should also be sought from the medical board." The hearing of the case was adjourned till Wednesday, January 18.

During the hearing, it was revealed that as per police investigation the counsel for the victim's parents and legal heirs, Raja Zahoorul Hassan, was a "relative of the accused" Additional District & Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife Maheen Zafar.



Last week, the top court took suo motu notice of the alleged torture of Tayyaba. Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took the notice a day after the father of the 10-year-old housemaid, Tayyaba, ‘forgave’ the accused judge and his wife.

The judge and his wife were booked after the juvenile maid recorded her statement before police in the presence of Assistant Commissioner Potohar Nisha Ishtiaq. The judge’s wife was granted bail. The judge and his wife were accused of keeping the juvenile housemaid in wrongful confinement, burning her hand over a missing broom, beating her with a ladle, detaining her in a storeroom and threatening her with even worse.