The case gained a lot of media attention because of the apparent brutality of her murder and several human rights and minority activists rallied around her.
PHOTO: FILE
Shazia Bashir died on January 22, 2010, with initial reports indicating that she had been badly beaten and suffered possible sexual abuse. The case gained a lot of media attention because of the apparent brutality of her murder and several human rights and minority activists rallied around her.
The 12-year-old Christian girl’s employers – former Lahore Bar Association president Advocate Muhammad Naeem and members of his family – were arrested and tried for her murder, but were acquitted by the courts as a medical report indicated that she had died of natural causes.
In a two-page letter to the president, Nasreen Bibi, Shazia’s mother, has asked the president of Pakistan to order legal action against Chaudhry, against her lawyer Advocate Anika Maria, as well as rights activists Joseph Francis and Aslam Pervez Sahotra.
Bibi has already been sued for defamation by Naeem for Rs250 million, according to the letter for continuing to refer to him as her daughter’s killer despite his acquittal by the courts.
Bibi alleged in the letter that her lawyer, in cahoots with Naeem, had tricked her into withdrawing her right to appeal against the verdict in the Lahore High Court.
Maria denied the allegation, saying she had tried to help Bibi as best she could. She said that Bibi had appeared in court in person to withdraw the appeal, affixing her thumbprint to the application and submitting a copy of her identity card, so there was no question of someone impersonating her. The lawyer said that the court record would show that she wasn’t even present in court at the time of the withdrawal of the right to appeal.
Bibi alleged in the letter that Sahotra and Francis had joined her case because of the media attention it was getting and then proceeded to deprive her of the donations sent for her from abroad. She alleged that Francis had kept her confined in his house for 10 days on the pretext that her life was in danger. She said that Francis had pledged to pursue the case, but had not actually done anything. She said Francis had not hired a lawyer for her nor allowed her to hire one until well into the trial.
At the time, the Lahore Bar Association had also barred its members from appearing in the case against Naeem in support of its former president.
Bibi wrote in her letter that her daughter had been tortured to death by Naeem and his family and since she had been deprived of the right to appeal, the president remained her final hope. She urged him to deliver justice to a helpless, penniless and homeless woman.
Advocate Chaudhry Muhammad Azhar, an associate of the former Lahore Bar Association president, said that Nasreen Bibi was inviting further claims for damages against her by branding Naeem a killer even after his acquittal.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2013.
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"The 12-year-old Christian girl’s employers – former Lahore Bar Association president Advocate Muhammad Naeem and members of his family – were arrested and tried for her murder, but were acquitted by the courts as a medical report indicated that she had died of natural causes. ......Shazia Bashir died on January 22, 2010, with initial reports indicating that she had been badly beaten and suffered possible sexual abuse........... At the time, the Lahore Bar Association had also barred its members from appearing in the case against Naeem in support of its former president."
Sounds fishy, a twelve year old died of natural causes. Why bar association barred its members from fighting for the victim and her family. Weird people.
Now this is a sad case, symptomatic of the injustice people face in Pakistan. I pray for the day people have enough money to support themselves so they don't have to send their kids to work as servants. That might be difficult but at least rich people should stop this exploitation of children and their poorer parents. That is something achievable and people should simply decide not to hire any underage help. If you are ever tempted, just imagine if it was your child who had to work like that.