ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday resumed the hearing of the Tayyaba torture case led by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar.
Justice Saqib said that a criminal offence had definitely been committed. He remarked, “A challan should be submitted and the trial should begin in the case. How can we stop this evil practice in the society?”
The chief justice put forth the argument that parents forcing an innocent girl to work constitutes as bonded labour.
One of the judges on the bench, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, said that this case involved child labour, child abuse and the role of parents.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case till January 25.
Moreover, the police asked the court for three to four days in order to give them ample time for the preparation of the DNA report and the thorough completion of the investigation. In response, the court granted police 10 more days for carrying out the investigation.
The main accused in the case, Islamabad Additional Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan was also present in the Supreme Court, however, his wife Maheen was not present. Azam, who claims to be Tayyaba’s father, was also present in the court.
Raja Khurram’s lawyer presented bail documents for Maheen. In response to this the chief justice remarked, “This is great. Beat up a child and then say it is a bailable offence.”
Human rights lawyer Justice (Retd) Tariq Mehmood said that child labour laws had not been revised and if a child was forced to work by anyone other than their parents, then the penalty for the crime was only Rs 200.
An inquiry report prepared by the Islamabad DIG Operations Kashif Alam holds judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan’s wife Maheen responsible for torture of the child maid and the judge responsible of criminal negligence. The medical report reveals that there were 20 torture marks on Tayyaba’s body.
