The preliminary postmortem report of 10-year-old Fatima, also known as Saya Phuriro, who was believed to have died from physical abuse in Ranipur, Khairpur district, has revealed signs ofrape, injuries and child abuse.
The report was submitted to the Director General of Health Services in Sindh on Saturday night, shortly after the body was exhumed for examination in the Ali Muhammad Phuriro village graveyard.
"The injuries occurred before her death," the report noted, revealing a total of eight injuries on the girl's body.
The postmortem findings suggest signs of genital and anal trauma while samples were collected for further laboratory analysis.
According to the three-page report, a bluish-red mark was observed on the right side of her forehead, along with a reddish-black bruise on the upper chest measuring six square (sq) centimetres (cm).
Similar marks of 12 sq cm and 10 sq cm were also noted on the upper and lower middle back, along with a smaller mark of two sq cm on the left side of her back.
Moreover, a 40 sq cm bruise was visible on the front of her left arm and forearm, with a similar mark of 12 sq cm on the right arm.
The medical team collected samples for chemical, serological, and DNA analysis, as well as for microbiology, histopathology, and anal swab testing.
The report was signed by eight doctors, including Dow University of Health Sciences Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Chairman, who supervised the process.
Two professors from Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women in Nawabshah, Karachi's police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, Hyderabad's police surgeon Dr Waqar Ahmed Shaih, additional police surgeon Dr Amanullah Bhangwar from Shaheed Benazirabad district, and Dr Aqeel Ahmed Qureshi from MS People Medical College Hospital were also part of the team.
Earlier on Saturday, the exhumation of the body took place in the presence of a civil judge and judicial magistrate. The digging began at 12:30 pm, followed by the postmortem examination at 1:15 pm. The autopsy was completed by the medical team in two hours.
Khairpur police have detained three suspects, including Pir Syed Asad Ali Shah, in whose residence the deceased worked as a housemaid, his wife, Syeda Hina Shah, who obtained interim bail from the Sindh High Court and Dr Fateh Memon Ameer Ali Chang along with his compounder for their alleged involvement.
The case was registered on the complaint of Shabnum Phuriro, the mother of the deceased.
The girl had passed away on August 14 and was buried on the same day without a postmortem examination.
SSP Khairpur Mir Rohail Khoso said the police are going to shift all the housemaids to their homes from the Haveli of the accused persons. Separately, the prime accused Asad Shah was taken to Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences where his DNA and nail samples were taken.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2023.
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