Teenage maid tortured, burnt

Doctors say victim suffered 40% burn injuries with infections in both legs

LAHORE:

A 13-year old girl was tortured and burnt by her employers in KB Housing Colony, North Cantonment area. The doctors said the victim suffered 40% burn injuries and her both legs have developed severe infections. Meanwhile, the employer and her two brothers have been booked for torturing and burning with flames a maid at her house by South Cantonment Police on Thursday.

Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has sought a report from IG police about the torture of the girl in the Saddar area and directed the officers concerned that the accused persons should be brought to justice. A case has been registered under 324 (attempt to murder) and 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) against the suspects Afshan, Sheikh Nadeem and Sheikh Akmal. Nadeem and Akmal are police officers.

They have served in different positions including as SHOs. DIG Operations has suspended both cops. On January 20, complainant Sakina Bibi, mother of victim Maryam Bibi, said she went to the colony to see her daughter. However, Afshan Baji and his brothers Nadeem and Akmal, working for the police department, told her she was busy at work and asked me to leave.

“When my husband Muhammad Nadeem and I spoke louder, they started making excuses and took us inside,” she said. “My daughter Maryam was injured; her both legs had been burnt and wrapped in bandages. She told me that the three suspects had tortured her before pushing a stove on her legs that burnt her legs.” Employers forced the victim to perform domestic chores despite her injuries. The victim was going under treatment at Lahore Mayo Hospital. She received 40% burn injuries on her body. Her lower abdomen part was severely burnt. The wounds were at least 15 days old and were infected. DIG Operations Afzal Kausar along with SP Cantonment, other officers visited Lahore Mayo Hospital to inquire after the teenager girl.

On the other hand, a video surfaced suggesting that as the victim received burnt injuries, her employer had alerted her parents. “Your looks and health have improved during your stay with baji (the employer),” she is heard saying. An officer said the complainant Sakina had taken her daughter with her a week ago. They went to a Hakeem for her treatment instead of a hospital. The treatment further deteriorated her condition, causing infection in her wounds.

Sakina filed the complaint before the police on January 25. She had come to meet her daughter on January 20. Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CP&WB) Chairperson Sarah Ahmad said she had deputed a team to ensure the proper medical treatment to the victim. They were at Lahore Mayo Hospital. She also resolved to talk to CCPO Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana in person to make it a test case. A report published by the United Nations revealed that over 3.3 million children in Pakistan.