Prey of Poverty

On January 23, 2010, an innocent 12-year old child Shazia was reported to have been tortured to death. She had been employed as a maid in Advocate Naeem’s house who, along with his family members, including his wife, son and sister-in-law, has been accused of inflicting torture on her. According to her parents, Advocate Naeem told them that their daughter had been admitted to Jinnah Hospital and when they arrived, Shazia was already dead. They brought her dead body back to their residence because the police had refused to register a case or conduct an autopsy. It was only after the incident was widely reported in the media and authorities at the highest levels took notice that the police registered a case and took the body for a post-mortem. Shazia’s parents have accused Advocate Naeem of trying to bribe them with Rs 15,000 to keep quiet. Fortunately, after pressure from high-ups, the police have arrested the main accused. According to the post-mortem report, Shazia had been physically abused for a long period of time and the wounds on her body prove that she had been beaten up ruthlessly with some sharp, pointed tool.

This case clearly shows that the child labour laws, according to which a child cannot be employed before the age of 15, have been violated. Moreover, the cruelty inflicted by Advocate Naeem and his family that eventually killed the little helpless child is criminal. Even though Advocate Naeem, himself a practitioner of the law, was completely aware of the child labour laws existing in the country, he appointed a 12-year old girl as a maid at his house. By all means, the case should be impartially investigated and Advocate Naeem and his family should be punished according to the law. However, one question still remains: who is to be blamed for such an injustice?

This is just one case that has been reported. The fact is that there are millions of Shazias out there who are forced to work at a young age and who suffer cruelty or may even lose their lives because of such treatment and their cases never get reported. Yesterday, Cantonment Judical Magistrate on extended for another six days the physical remand of Chaudhry Naeem, The police produced the suspect in the court in tight security and the media was also barred from entering the court premises. The police requested the court to extend custody of the accused for 10 days as the required more time to collect evidence.

Talitha Kumi Welfare Society along with members of the civil society organization and NGOs held a press conference at the residence of Shazia. They expressed distrust over an inquiry committee formed by the Punjab chief minister, saying the committee was using delaying tactics.

Later, they lodged a protest outside the Lahore Press Club in the evening demanding the suspect be sentence to death and demanded impartial justice and ask lawyers community to adopt a fair attitude on such issues

They also call upon the police officials to swiftly investigate the murder of Shazia and punish the culprits."