Summary
- It is a slap on the face of the entire system – the Labour Department, the Child Protection Bureau, and the society that left Waseem Abbas helpless and forced a family like Shahzaib’s to commit suicide despite a Rs.
- Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019:* Under this law, employing a child below 15 years as a domestic worker is a crime punishable with imprisonment and fine, and taking hard labour from children aged 15 to 18 is prohibited.
- – No registration mechanism – No check and balance by Labour Dept – No visit by Child Protection Bureau in posh areas – Agents mafia active – buying girls from poor villages for Rs.
By Asad Kharal / Ali Abid
LAHORE/SHEIKHUPURA : Another house on Khalid Road witnessed a tragedy that has shaken the conscience of Punjab.
A 13-year-old domestic child maid, hired for just Rs. 4,000 per month, was allegedly tortured to death. Her body bore torture marks, burn wounds on her hands, and fear in her eyes that remained even after death.
This is not just the death of a child. It is a slap on the face of the entire system – the Labour Department, the Child Protection Bureau, and the society that left Waseem Abbas helpless and forced a family like Shahzaib’s to commit suicide despite a Rs. 700 billion welfare budget.
1. What Happened? – Minute Mirror Investigation
According to verified information received by Minute Mirror:
The victim was 13 years old, belonging to an extremely poor family from Hafizabad. Out of poverty, her parents handed her over 3 months ago through a local agent to an influential family on Khalid Road, Sheikhupura, for only *Rs. 4,000 per month* for domestic work.
According to neighbours and local sources, the girl had been subjected to brutal torture for several days. Beating for minor mistakes, not giving food, burning with hot spoons, and making her stand for hours was routine.
Yesterday, when her condition deteriorated, the employers kept her hidden in the house instead of taking her to hospital. When her condition became extremely critical, she died. The employers were trying to hide the body and give it a colour of natural death when locals informed the police.
On receiving information, Factory Area Police Station reached the spot, took the house into custody and shifted the body to District Headquarters Hospital, Sheikhupura for post-mortem.
2. What Was Found on the Body? – Initial Post-Mortem Report
According to DHQ Hospital sources, the initial post-mortem revealed horrifying details that confirm brutal torture:
– More than 15 torture marks on the entire body
– Burn marks with hot iron/spoon and electric wire / rope marks on arms and back
– Deep injury mark on the head, possibly with blunt weapon
– Severe swelling on face, eyes and lips
– Signs of extreme weakness and malnutrition, weight far less than age, only 26-28 kg
– Old and new wounds indicating torture was not of one day but continued for weeks
According to senior doctors, prima facie death occurred due to head injury, internal bleeding and continuous abuse coupled with malnutrition. The final forensic, chemical and DNA reports will come in 2-3 days, which will further clarify the cause of death and sexual assault angle.
Hospital sources confirmed that police have been advised to add relevant sections after final report.
3. Helplessness of Parents – Exclusive Talk with Minute Mirror
The victim’s mother told Minute Mirror while crying and holding her daughter’s dupatta:
“We sent our daughter to work out of poverty. The employers said they would keep her like a daughter, educate her and pay Rs. 4,000. We did not know that our daughter’s life would be taken for Rs. 4,000. My daughter used to say on phone that Baji beats her, but we thought she is saying to come back home. We are guilty.”
The father, a daily wager, said: “We have 5 children. We cannot feed them. The agent said it is a good family on Khalid Road. We trusted him.”
The parents have demanded that the accused be arrested immediately, a murder case be registered, and the agent also be included in the investigation under human trafficking charges.
4. Police Action – Latest Update Till Now
DPO Sheikhupura Bilal Zafar Sheikh has taken immediate notice of the incident and sought report from DSP Sadar and SHO Factory Area.
*Latest updates till filing of this report:*
– *FIR Registered:* On the complaint of the girl’s father, Case No. ___/26 has been registered against the house owner husband-wife at Factory Area Police Station. Sections 302, 328-A PPC, Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019, Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act 2016 and Child Labour Act have been included.
– *Two Main Accused Arrested:* Police have arrested the house owner and his wife from Khalid Road. Both are influential and belong to a business family. According to sources, both have confessed to beating during initial interrogation but are denying murder.
– *House Sealed:* The house where torture took place has been sealed for forensic evidence. Blood-stained clothes, sticks, hot spoon and electric wire have been recovered.
– *Search for Agent:* Raids are being conducted to arrest the agent / human trafficker from Hafizabad who supplied the girl. Police say he runs an unregistered domestic workers supply network in Hafizabad-Sheikhupura-Nankana belt.
– *Child Protection Bureau on Spot:* CPWB team has reached Sheikhupura and recorded statement of parents. Bureau has announced to become complainant in the case.
5. CM Punjab and IG Punjab Take Notice
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has taken strict notice of the incident. Report has been sought from Chairperson Child Protection Bureau and Secretary Labour & Human Resource Department within 24 hours.
Chief Minister has directed that free legal aid be provided to the victim family and best medical-legal support be ensured.
IG Punjab has also directed RPO Sheikhupura to supervise the case himself and ensure challan is submitted in 14 days on priority basis.
6. What Does the Law Say? – Open Violation
This incident is an open violation of two major Punjab laws which exist only on paper:
*1. Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019:* Under this law, employing a child below 15 years as a domestic worker is a crime punishable with imprisonment and fine, and taking hard labour from children aged 15 to 18 is prohibited. Registration of domestic worker with Labour Department is mandatory.
*2. Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act 2016:* Complete ban on employing children below 15 years in any establishment.
The question is, the law exists, where is the implementation? Labour Department has not registered a single child domestic worker in Sheikhupura in last 2 years.
7. The Reality of Rs. 4,000 – Modern Slavery
At a time when the minimum wage for a labourer in Punjab is fixed at Rs. 37,000, keeping a child for Rs. 4,000 for a full 24-hour duty, without weekly leave, without medical care, without protection – if this is not slavery, what is?
What can you buy in Rs. 4,000 today?
– You cannot buy a pizza for one time for a family
– You cannot buy a pair of school shoes
– You cannot pay a private doctor’s fee for one visit
But in this amount, a poor man’s daughter’s life, her dignity, her childhood, everything was bought.
8. Why Are Such Incidents Increasing in Sheikhupura?
According to Minute Mirror’s research, more than 8,000 minor girls in Sheikhupura, Nankana, Faisalabad, Hafizabad belt are working in homes for Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000.
– No registration mechanism
– No check and balance by Labour Dept
– No visit by Child Protection Bureau in posh areas
– Agents mafia active – buying girls from poor villages for Rs. 20,000 advance and supplying for monthly commission
These girls are the most vulnerable because they are behind closed doors. Neither their screams come out, nor their blood is visible till they die.
This is the third incident in Sheikhupura in last 6 months.
Minute Mirror’s Demands:
1. In this case, challan should be submitted immediately under Section 302, 328-A and Child Labour Act and the accused should be given exemplary punishment.
2. Registration campaign for domestic workers should be started in all posh areas including Khalid Road, Civil Lines, Satellite Town.
3. Along with the family that kept the girl for Rs. 4,000, action should also be taken against the agent / human trafficker who supplied her under Trafficking in Persons Act.
4. Punjab Government should immediately create a Domestic Workers Welfare Fund and make it mandatory to pay every domestic worker’s salary through bank account and Ehsaas program verification.
5. DPO Sheikhupura should launch crackdown on unregistered domestic worker agencies.
Final Word:
Waseem Abbas was left helpless by his own relatives, Shahzaib’s family was left alone by the state, and this 13-year-old girl was killed by Rs. 4,000.
Being an orphan is not a crime, being poor is not a crime, but in this country, the poor and the orphan have no value.
If justice is not served to this daughter of Hafizabad today, tomorrow another dead body will come out from another house on Khalid Road.
We welcome your contributions! Submit your blogs, opinion pieces, press releases, news story pitches, and news features to opinion@minutemirror.com.pk and minutemirrormail@gmail.com
