A 10-year-old domestic worker, Sonia, was allegedly tortured to death by her employers in Lahore's Hanjarwal area on Saturday.
Sonia was working at the residence of Farrukh Bashir and his wife Nosheen, where she reportedly endured weeks of physical abuse. Her mother, Asma Bibi, a resident of Arifwala, had sent her daughter to work in the household three months ago through a relative, Sheikh Fiyaz, for a monthly wage of Rs8,000.
A few days ago, Asma received a call from Fiyaz saying Sonia had suffered a minor arm injury. Concerned, she asked another relative, Muhammad Aleem, to check on the child.
Aleem visited the employers' home in Ali Block, Ittefaq Town, and witnessed Sonia being violently beaten by Farrukh and Nosheen. When he protested, he was thrown out and threatened.
He immediately informed Asma about what he had seen.
Despite repeated calls over the next two days, Asima received no response from the employers.
Eventually, they informed her that her daughter had died. When Asma arrived at the house with relatives, they found Sonia's lifeless body lying on the floor, bearing visible and severe torture marks.
The family alleges that no medical treatment was provided to the child, despite her deteriorating condition. An FIR was registered at Hanjarwal Police Station under Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the mother's complaint.
DIG Operations Faisal Kamran ordered the immediate formation of a special investigation team. The couple has since been arrested, and legal proceedings are underway.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow and ordered a full investigation, pledging that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. Chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau, Sarah Ahmed, condemned the incident and assured the family of full legal support.
"Violence against children is intolerable. Those responsible deserve no leniency," she said.
Notably, legal experts point out that the FIR does not include charges under The Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, 2018, despite clear provisions that categorize employing children as domestic workers under bonded labour and human trafficking. Section 3 of the Act states that anyone who recruits or obtains another person for compelled labor through force, fraud, or coercion is guilty of human trafficking and liable to punishment.
Sonia's death is not an isolated case but part of a horrifying pattern of abuse. In February 2025, a 13-year-old domestic worker, Iqra, died in Rawalpindi after being tortured by her employers, who accused her of stealing chocolates.
The case went viral, with #JusticeforIqra trending on social media. Iqra, who had been working since she was eight due to her father's debt, was found with multiple fractures and severe head injuries.
Similarly, in 2020, eight-year-old Zahra died in Rawalpindi after she was allegedly beaten for letting pet parrots escape. Forensic reports later suggested possible sexual assault. In 2023, a 14-year-old girl named Sana was tortured by her employer in Lahore's Garhi Shahu area using scissors and sticks.
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