Rizwana torture case: Judge’s wife claims Rizwana never worked for her, says she wants to commit suicide

An Islamabad court has on Tuesday reserved verdict on appeal to grant physical remand of Somia Asim, the wife of a civil Judge accused of torturing Rizwana.

During the hearing, the police requested the court for the suspect’s physical remand for further investigation. The defense lawyer argued that the police have been investigating since Somia Asim got arrested, and emphasizing that she has nothing to do with it.

Furthermore, Somia while giving her statement to the court, shared that she has been facing a lot of criticism and pressure, even though she has not been proven guilty yet. She said that she’s a mother of three and with the current circumstances she feels like committing suicide.

Stating that she is being given a “media trial”, Somia also complained about media coverage while she is being brought to the court, to which the judge replied that it doesn’t matter because she is fully covered and no one could see her face.

The judge also inquired about the victim’s health. Rizwana’s sister apprised the court that she is doing better and has been shifted out of the ICU.

Later, the court reserved the verdict.

On Monday, the main suspect Somia Asim was arrested from the court after her bail plea was rejected.

The court went on to issue an arrest warrant against Somia Asim, the wife of a civil judge, after she presented herself in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Farrukh Farid.

During the court hearing, Asim’s lawyer claimed that she had appeared before the JIT and proclaimed her innocence. He stated that police records did not indicate any instances of violence committed by Asim. In addition, the defense attorney maintained that Somia had tried to send the minor girl back multiple times and had eventually handed her over to her mother.

However, the plaintiff’s lawyer contested the claims, stating that Rizwana, aged between 13 and 14, had been repeatedly subjected to torture. According to him, employing a minor is an illegal act in itself. He pointed out that the civil judge and his wife should have been aware of this illegality. He further claimed that there were allegations of blackmail against the girl’s parents.

He questioned how parents could cause such severe injuries to their own daughter and pointed out that the medical report of the girl had not been challenged by defense lawyers.

The plaintiff’s lawyer questioned the basis on which the accused was seeking an extension of her bail. He argued that if women are granted bail in such grave cases, it would lead to societal decay.

The shocking incident of severe torture on a teenage maid allegedly perpetrated by the wife of a civil judge in Islamabad has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. The victim, a resident of Sargodha, was shifted to Lahore General Hospital, prompting an investigation into accusations against the judge’s wife.