According to reports, 13-year-old Irfan was employed by landlady Shafqat Bibi to feed cattle and work in her house on a salary of Rs3,000 per month.
Sindh passes law to prohibit child labour
However, last week boy allegedly refused to work until his employer provided him food and paid his salary. Enraged by his demands, Bibi put the boys’ hand into a fodder-cutting machine to “teach him a lesson”.
The boy was rushed to a nearby hospital but doctors were unable to treat his badly injured hand, leaving the teenager with a permanent disability.
The local police initially showed reluctance in lodging a case against the influential landlady. However, a case was eventually filed against the landlady 10 days after the initial incident, and also named her brother and two other suspects.
Punjab govt vows to end child labour
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Macharwali village to meet Irfan and assure justice to the family. Expressing agitation over the delay in the registration of an FIR against the landlady, the chief minister said he will monitor the case himself. Further, CM Shehbaz also promised a prosthetic arm for the 13-year-old.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar has took suo motu notice of the incident on Wednesday and directed the authorities concerned to submit an inquiry report in the matter.
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