Victim of media hype? Judge’s appeal to summon ad agency’s records rejected

IHC maintains it will not change the wrong committed

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court Tuesday dismissed an application of a suspended judge who had urged the court to summon records of an advertisement company as evidence as part of his defence in the torture of a juvenile housemaid.

Justice Aamer Farooq Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissed the application of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Raja Khurram Khan stating that even if the record is summoned and examined, it will not nullify the wrongs of the judge and his wife.

ADSJ Raja and his wife Maheen Zafar had been booked and later charged with allegedly assaulting, confining, ill-treating, neglecting, abandoning, harming and injuring the minor housemaid.

They were accused of keeping the minor in wrongful confinement, burning her hand, beating her with a ladle, detaining her in a storeroom, and threatening her with even worse. The couple, though, had pleaded ‘not guilty’ after they were indicted and are currently standing trial.

The gruesome story of the juvenile maid had revealed the cruel relationship between ‘masters and servants’ and government’s cosmetic measures to protect children.



Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar had also taken notice of torture on minor maid working at the judge’s house.

During the trial, Judge Raja had claimed that the media hype had been created when the incident surfaced. He requested the court to summon the revenue details of advertising companies Pakistan Advertisers Society and Brain Communication from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

According to the application, the judge had argued that he had passed some orders against the interest of a property tycoon who had resorted to a ruthless campaign against him. The records of the advertising companies, Judge Raja had argued, would prove that he was a victim of media hype. Justice Farooq, however, dismissed the plea observing that while the incident did receive overwhelming media attention, it has no bearing on the guilt or innocence of the accused. Moreover, he observed that the application appeared to be a delaying tactic.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2018.