In a disturbing incident in Islamabad, a 14-year-old maid allegedly endured brutal torture at the hands of the wife of a civil judge named Asim Hafeez, who is deputed at the Federal Judicial Academy – Sargodha. The maid, named Rizwana, was accused of stealing gold jewellery, which supposedly led to her horrific treatment.
According to the girl’s family, she had been working as a servant at the civil judge’s house for six months, during which she faced severe abuse by the judge’s wife. The family revealed that the girl had not received any salary during her time of service.
The severity of the torture was evident, as more than 15 torture marks were found on the girl’s face and body. She was immediately taken to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for medical assistance. Due to the gravity of her injuries, she was later referred to a hospital in Lahore for further treatment.
Judge Asim Hafeez denied any involvement in the girl’s torture, claiming that he was against such acts of violence. He stated that he had offered to take the girl to her parents’ house, but she injured herself by hitting her head on a wall. He also asserted that the scar on her face was the result of her eating sand from a pot at his house. The judge mentioned that he had learned about the girl residing in Lahore and intended to visit her there.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Child Protection and Welfare Bureau initiated action against the accused, and the chairperson, Sarah Ahmad, confirmed the girl’s working status as a domestic servant in Islamabad. The girl’s condition is reported to be critical, with her hands and legs having broken bones due to being beaten with batons, and nails were allegedly pulled out by the accused.
The girl’s mother stated that after the torture, the employers tried to hide the incident, and the judge’s wife even allegedly fed Rizwana acid to prevent her from speaking the truth before sending her back home.
Sarah Ahmad highlighted that this incident involves child trafficking, an appalling crime that the UN has urged Pakistan to combat. The Punjab Child Protection and Welfare Bureau ordered the concerned police department to take appropriate action against those responsible for the heinous act.