FAISALABAD:
A 13-year-old domestic worker was allegedly tortured by her employers in a case of child abuse reported in Faisalabad.
The couple burnt the girl’s body with heated tongs and shaved her head.
Police have registered a case under four sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and arrested the mill owner, while a search is underway to apprehend his wife.
According to the FIR lodged by Muhammad Ashfaq, a resident of Ground 6, Ghulam Muhammadabad, his daughter Zaneera had been working for two years as a domestic helper at the house of textile mill owner Habib and his wife Sadaf, residents of Civil Lines Block 8.
Ashfaq stated that Sadaf often woke his daughter up at night to beat her over minor issues and prevented her from making or receiving phone calls.
“When my daughter didn’t answer my call yesterday, I grew worried and went to their house with my wife,” he said.
“To our horror, we found her head shaved. Upon asking, she tearfully revealed that Sadaf had burned her back, arms, and hands with hot tongs and assaulted her severely.”
Ashfaq added that when they tried to take their daughter home, the couple threatened to kill them if they pursued legal action.
Police registered a case under Sections 354, 337-V, 328-A, and 34 of the PPC at the Civil Lines Police Station, arresting Habib and detaining him, while raids are being conducted to apprehend his wife, Sadaf.
Taking notice of the incident, City Police Officer (CPO) Faisalabad Sahibzada Bilal Umar directed SP Lyallpur Town Abid Zafar to submit a detailed report and ensure the immediate arrest of the female suspect.
The CPO vowed strict punishment under the law for those involved.
As per the data received by the Express, between January 1 and October 7 this year, 45 cases of child abuse were reported in Faisalabad district, including seven cases involving domestic workers and 38 cases of children working at shops or brick kilns.
Most incidents occurred in areas under the jurisdiction of Chak Jhumra, Batala Colony, Khurrianwala, Dijkot, Samanabad, and Jhang Bazaar police stations.
District Incharge of the Child Protection Bureau (CPB) Faisalabad, Rubina Iqbal Cheema, confirmed that seven domestic abuse cases were reported this year, in addition to 38 cases involving working children.
“We have rescued around 600 children so far this year,” she said.
“The CPB team provides medical and legal assistance to victims and pursues the cases of all children subjected to violence.”
She urged citizens not to employ underage children as domestic help.
“Many parents send their children to work in wealthy households for small amounts of money or advance payments, unaware that such environments often expose them to severe physical and emotional abuse,” Cheema added.
