Father of burnt maid pins hopes on SC

Says he withdrew case against his daughter’s employer due to pressure

LAHORE: The father of a minor maid, whose hands were burnt by her employer in the Defence area of the city, has pinned all hopes on the Supreme Court of Pakistan for justice.

Khalid Hussain claimed he withdrew a case against his daughter’s torture due to “pressure” from the accused. The case had been filed by Ghalib, the girl’s uncle, at the Defence B police station on December 20, 2016. The girl was reportedly punished in such a brutal manner for breaking a windowpane. Police also allegedly favoured the suspect and asked the family to withdraw its complaint.

“We are poor people and had no other choice. So we took the case back and returned to the village.”  He complained that financially disadvantaged people are seldom heard in this country. “This is a norm and it is common.” However, when the Supreme Court of Pakistan took note of the matter, a police party visited their village and brought both him and the nine-year-old girl back to the city.



When contacted, Sub-Inspector Akram refused to comment. Ziaul Haq, who was SHO at that time and suspended from his charge two weeks ago, denied the allegation. He pointed out that the father of the victim is the one who withdrew the case.

The official recalled that Ghalib Hussain, the uncle of the victim, had come at midnight on the day he filed the application.

He said they were asked to return on the next day for a medical examination. The former SHO said the girl and her uncle arrived late on the next day, resulting in the examination bring delayed for two days. Meanwhile, Khalid Hussain reached the police station to withdraw the case.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan took notice of the incident and asked the Punjab IGP to submit a report on the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2017.