Acid attack: Caucus promises justice for maid

She was burned by her employers this week.

LAHORE:

Fourteen-year-old Sana had been working at a house in Zubaida Park for the last four months. On Monday, Sana says, her employers beat her up, shaved her head and threw acid on her. Sana was taken to Mayo Hospital on Tuesday with more than 45 per cent burns and a case was registered against her employers at the Nawankot police station on Thursday.

A Women Caucus delegation, headed by its convener Uzma Bukhari and treasurer Dr Nausheen Hamid, met Sana on Friday. “It is unfortunate that domestic workers are not registered. We are trying to have them registered as labourers so that such violence can be prevented,” Bukhari said. She said the caucus was working on a domestic violence bill and safeguards for domestic workers would be included in that. “Even if Sana had committed a grave wrong, this is not the way to react to it.”

She said that Sana’s condition was critical. “We are committed to helping her and will fight for justice in this case.  The culprits will pay for what they did.”



Bukhari said there were no legal reasons to stop the case. “If Sana can’t get a lawyer, I will represent her,” she said.

Bukhari assured Sana’s family that she would get justice. She said the members of the caucus would pay her regular visits and will follow up on her case.

She requested the medical superintendent, Dr Amjad Shahzad, to constitute a board of doctors to oversee Sana’s treatment and provide her with the best available facilities. “We are satisfied with the medical treatment she is being provided and will visit Sana throughout the course of her treatment,” she said.

Dr Hamid said, “We need to make domestic violence and violence against domestic servants a criminal offence...this is the only way such heinous crimes can come to an end. The culprits will not be let off easily.”

Hamid requested Dr Shahzad to move Sana to the Burn Unit in isolation where only select visitors could meet her. It might help her recovery, she said. Dr Shahzad told the caucus members that the hospital was providing Sana the best possible treatment. He said he would constitute a board in this regard and shift her to the Burn Unit after her surgery.

Dr Shahzad said the girl had 45 per cent burns and was in a critical condition. “We are trying our best to save her life,” he said.  Sana’s father Muhammad Razzaq told The Express Tribune that it had taken them two days to file a complaint because they were being threatened by her employer.

Victim’s name has been change to protect identity

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2014.