In an incident in the Okanwala Bangla area of Chichawatni, a man and his son were arrested for allegedly torturing their maid, Asma Bibi, after accusing her of theft.
The police registered a case and took the accused into custody.
Asma Bibi, a 37-year-old mother of three, had been working for the Jatt family for five years, earning a meagre Rs100 per day.
The landlords Chaudhry Munir Jatt and his son Qamar Jatt accused her of stealing gold jewellery and cash, and in retaliation, they used sticks and rods to beat her severely, leaving her in critical condition. Her husband, Shehzad, a labourer struggling with irregular work, depends on her income to feed their children.
The assault was interrupted when villagers, hearing Asma’s cries, intervened and alerted her relatives, who found her unconscious. They immediately took her to safety and reported the incident to the police.
District Police Officer (DPO) Sahiwal, Faisal Shehzad, ordered swift action, and under the supervision of DSP Circle Chaudhry Tasir Riaz Cheema, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Bangla Okara police station, Sakhi Kamiana, arrested the two accused.
Rescue 1122 transported Asma Bibi to the emergency ward of Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Chichawatni, where she is now reported to be out of danger.
Torture of domestic help is not uncommon in Punjab. Earlier in February, a young housemaid was allegedly beaten to death in Neemat Colony. Chairperson of the Child Protection and Welfare Buereau Sarah Ahmed had dispatched a team to the housemaid’s employers’ residence after learning of the incident.
Ayesha, 12 was hired by school teachers Fazlur Rahman, Sunila Tufail and Raheela Tufail as domestic help at a wage of Rs12,000.
The victim was allegedly tortured by Fazlur Rahman, Sunila Tufail and Raheela. She was fine when her mother visited her a month ago, but the accused allegedly abused Ayesha after she left.
The victim’s head, hands, arms and legs all bore marks of physical abuse. Ayesha was allegedly tortured on Friday night as well, which led to serious deterioration of her health. She was taken to Civil Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Upon learning about the violent incident, police officers from SP Madina Town, ASP People’s Colony and SHO Madina Town Umar Sarfraz Waraich arrived at the scene.
In February, a 10-year-old maid faced torture at the hands of her employers in Johar Town.
Gulnaz Fatima, employed at the residence of Javed Iqbal, endured regular abuse, as alleged by the victim herself. However, matters escalated when she dared to eat without prior permission, that enraged Iqbal’s wife, Rubab. The consequence was a brutal assault with clubs and fists, leaving her with serious injuries.
Nearby residents intervened and alerted the police, leading to the immediate arrest of the suspects and the initiation of a case against them. The Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CP&WB) stepped in, taking custody of Gulnaz to ensure her safety and well-being.
CP&WB Chairperson Sarah Ahmad confirmed that the victim bore visible marks of torture on her face and body, emphasising that she would be provided with comprehensive protection and support.
Despite increased awareness campaigns against the employment of children as domestic labour and legislative measures treating such cases as trafficking in persons offenses, instances of child labour exploitation persist unabated.
Source: Tribune
