Two sisters working as maids sexually abused by employer

Police confirm accused has fled the country

FAISALABAD: In yet another tragic incident, two sisters who were working as maids in a house, were allegedly subjected to sexual assault by their employer in Toba Tek Singh.

Gojra Police Station SHO Rana Abdul Ghafoor told The Express Tribune on Thursday that a complaint was registered by Abdul Sattar, a resident of Jhang Road, Gojra, in which he alleged that his two daughters, nine-year-old (A)* and 15-year-old (B)*, who were working as maids at the house of accused Talha Shahzad in Hafeez Park were raped by him.



The police official said both girls were allegedly sexually assaulted on different occasions a few days ago. “We have registered two separate cases against the accused under sections 376 and 377 of the Pakistan Penal Code vide FIRs 535/17 and 547/17,” he maintained.

The SHO pointed out that victim (A)* revealed that accused Talha would compel her to massage his body on daily basis and would repeatedly rape her.

She disclosed that the accused warned her of dire consequences and would threaten to kill her parents if she informed anyone about the sexual assault.

“Owing to fear, my daughters did not tell anyone about the forced sexual abuse but later they revealed the truth,” victims’ father Abdul Sattar lamented. He said accused Talha was an influential person and accused the police of using delaying tactics in registration of the case. “The negligence committed by the police provided an opportunity to the accused to escape from the country. Now the police officials are claiming that Talha has fled to Dubai,” he revealed.



Meanwhile, SHO Rana Ghafoor confirmed that the accused had fled the country. “We are utilising all resources to provide justice to the affected family and bring the culprit to justice at every cost,” he said.

He told The Express Tribune that samples of both the victims had been sent to forensic laboratory in Lahore. “As per initial medical examination report of victim (B)*, the medical officer at Gojra Civil Hospital confirmed that she has been sexually assaulted,” he said.
*Names changed to protect identity

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2017.