In recent events, Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted Soumia Asim, the spouse of a civil judge, protective bail. Asim is under scrutiny for the alleged abuse and torment of her 14-year-old domestic worker.
Upon hearing her plea for anticipatory bail, Justice Farooq Haider approved the application, providing temporary protection until August 1.
The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police disclosed that a formal complaint was lodged against Soumia Asim, wife of Civil Judge Asim Hafeez, accusing her of inflicting serious physical harm on her young domestic help.
The accusations came to light after the young girl was admitted to a Lahore hospital bearing grave injuries. The child’s family has pointed the finger at Soumia for the alleged brutal treatment of their daughter.
The Unfolding Allegations and the Pursuit of Justice
The charges were filed at the Humak Police Station by the girl’s father, Manga Khan. The accusations fall under sections 506 (criminal intimidation) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
Expressing her readiness to cooperate with the authorities, Asim has shown compliance with the ongoing investigation following her arrest. The preliminary medical report of the victim has painted a grim picture, indicating 15 serious wounds distributed over her body, primarily on her face and head.
The report details the denial of medical aid for an alarming seven-month period, exacerbating her injuries. Doctors in Lahore, where the victim was moved for specialized care from Sargodha, expressed concern for her health.
Efforts by the federal capital police to apprehend the judge for questioning have not yielded results. Despite conducting searches in Lahore and Gujranwala, the police have been unsuccessful in locating the wife.
The girl’s parents stated that their daughter was employed seven months ago as a domestic helper at the judge’s house, earning Rs10,000 monthly. The placement was recommended by a friend named Chaudhry Mukhtar. When they visited the house on July 23, they discovered the shocking truth about their daughter’s condition.
The parents had not seen their daughter in seven months but had spoken to her occasionally on the phone. The sight that greeted them at the judge’s house was horrifying – their daughter was wounded, with injuries all over her body, including her skull infested with maggots. Her lips and eyes were swollen, teeth broken, ribs fractured, and her neck bore signs of strangulation.
This case of alleged abuse is a serious matter, and if proven true, it stands as a stark reminder of the continued prevalence of child labour and abuse in many parts of the world. The quest for justice continues as the investigation moves forward.
