Next 24 hours critical for tortured 13-year-old, attempted murder case registered against judge, wife

According to the doctors of the General Hospital in Lahore, the next 24 hours are critical for the teenaged domestic worker allegedly tortured by an Islamabad Judicial Complex administrative officer and his wife.

Rizwana, 13, is admitted at the General Hospital to receive treatment for the injuries she sustained. The girl’s condition was better at night but became critical in the morning.

On the other hand, new charges have been added to the First Information Report (FIR) after Rizwana’s recent medical report was issued.

A section on attempted murder and one about breaking bones have been added to the case registered at the Hamak police station in Islamabad.

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 on Monday, prompting an investigation into accusations against the judge’s wife.

Despite the public outcry, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted protective bail until August 1 to Soumia Asim, wife of Civil Judge Asim Hafeez. Authorities have said that investigation into the matter is ongoing and all involved individuals are being probed, with appropriate legal action being taken.

The Islamabad police have also recorded statements from both the victim and her father, though the medical report is still awaited. Despite the gravity of the crime, the investigation is being conducted by the relevant police station and not by the Special Sexual Offence Investigation Unit (SSOIU) under the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021, which has a specific mandate to handle offenses against juveniles.

Efforts to apprehend the accused have so far proven unsuccessful. The police conducted raids in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Gujranwala but were unable to locate the judge’s wife, who had obtained pre-arrest bail.

According to the medico-legal certificate (MLC) issued for the teenage girl, the extent of her injuries was distressing. The report revealed lacerations on her head, face, and body, including broken teeth, bruises, and signs of strangulation. The girl’s harrowing ordeal came to light when her father, a laborer, filed a complaint with the Humak police station. Initially displaying reluctance, Islamabad police eventually registered a First Information Report (FIR) on July 26, charging the judge’s wife with criminal intimidation and wrongful confinement.

However, the FIR made no mention of the physical torture the victim endured, even though the medical report clearly pointed to such abuse, as reported by Dawn.

As public awareness of the case grows, civil society and human rights organizations have called for a thorough investigation and the appropriate punishment of those responsible for subjecting the young maid to such cruelty.

The case has highlighted the issue of child labor, which is considered a criminal offense under the law. The public is urged to report any such incidents to the police to protect vulnerable individuals from abuse and exploitation.