Child maid allegedly tortured for breaking pot
A teenage housemaid was allegedly tortured and kicked out of the house for breaking a pot.
The girl was taken into police custody and handed over to the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB). Batala Colony police registered a case against the suspect and his wife.
In light of the medical examination results of the injured victim, police arrested the suspect, who is reportedly a former Nazim of a union council committee.
As per the police report, the victim, the 13-year-old daughter of Kaniz Bibi and a resident of Chak No 245, was employed at the Nazim Usman Manj’s house at Maqbool Road, Ghousia Chowk for Rs5,000 per month.
The pot was accidently broken by the maid on which the man and his wife repeatedly beat the girl with sticks and injured her.
Her hands, wrists, face and legs became badly inflamed and she was kicked out of the house.
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The owner of a petrol pump informed the police after seeing the victim crying near Jhang Road, Sudhar bypass.
Thikriwala police took the girl into their custody, enquired about the incident and later handed her over to Batala Colony police.
The mother of the girl was reportedly called to the police station by the Naib Moharar of Batala Colony Police and allegedly pressurised as well as offered some money by the influential suspects in exchange for dropping charges against the couple.
However, CPWB officer Rubina Iqbal Cheema reached the spot, took the girl into her custody and got her medical treatment conducted, which confirmed the torture inflicted on the girl.
Batala Colony police registered a case against the employer and his wife on the statement of the CPWB officer and arrested Usman Manj.
Meanwhile, CPWB Chairperson Sarah Ahmed showed concern over the torture incident and expressed resolve to help the victim get justice.
According to a spokesperson for CPWB, the chairperson directed the Faisalabad CPWB team to take immediate custody of the domestic worker and contact the family of victim immediately.
The CP&WB chairperson assured the affected family that the bureau would provide full legal aid to the victim.
She stated, “The CPWB will undertake measures to help the victim get justice.”
*With additional input from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2021.