Day: August 7, 2023

ISLAMABAD  –   The condition of the teen domestic worker alleg­edly tortured in an Islamabad home by a judicial officer and his wife is getting better, said the head of the medical board formed for her treatment.

Rizwana has been under treatment at the Lahore General Hospital for 13 days. On the advice of the 12-member medical board specially created for her treatment, a medical examination of the young Rizwana was conducted by a team of doctors.

The team declared Rizwana’s condition bet­ter than before. They said the injuries she suf­fered due to torture were healing. The head of the medical board, Prof Jodat Saleem, said Riz­wana’s blood reports have improved and she has been eating for two days. The infection in Rizwa­na’s body is decreasing again, he said, adding the supplemental oxygen being provided to her has been removed on her oxygen levels stabilizing.

 

Prof Saleem further said that Rizwana has started eating three meals a day for two days, adding that she is being provided to eat whatever she is asking for. Rizwana’s condition is getting better, the medi­cal board head said, adding her usual treatment would continue. The board of surgeons will decide about Rizwana’s surgery next week, he commented.

Source: The Nation

ISLAMABAD: The wife of a civil judge, who is currently under interim bail for allegedly torturing a 14-year-old domestic worker, has pleaded innocence, The News reported.

During the investigation, she refuted claims regarding the girl, named Rizwana, ever working at her home. Instead, she stated that she sent Rs60,000 to the girl’s parents solely as financial assistance.

“I never tortured the girl. She was suffering from a skin allergy. I have no idea how she received an injury on her head,” the prime suspect in the case told a joint investigation team (JIT).

According to police sources, the judge’s wife had no answer in her defence. They mentioned she hurled accusations when asked the reason for the violence.

Meanwhile, she could be summoned again before the joint investigation team, as she could not satisfy the investigators during the probe.

On the other hand, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights has expressed grave concern over the torture, urging the law and justice ministry to immediately initiate the process for the removal of the civil judge from service.

The committee, chaired by Dr Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto, was briefly apprised by Ayesha Raza Farooq, the chairperson National Commission on the Rights of Children (NCRC), about the unfortunate incident.

She informed the committee that the incident happened on July 24 and was reported in the media after two days.

Initially, the FIR was very weak; however, on the basis of the medico-legal report, some more sections were added to the FIR to further strengthen the case. The ICT police also endorsed the statement of the NCRC chairperson.

The committee directed the DIG police to undertake an impartial inquiry, ignoring all sorts of pressures, finalize the report and submit it to the committee at the earliest possible.

Source: Geo News

 

PESHAWAR: Speakers at a training session on the prevention of child abuse on Sunday disclosed that 12 children became victims of sexual abuse every day.

The session was organized by Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), a German non-profit organization.

The speakers also pointed out that 4,253 child abuse cases were reported in 2022, which was a 30 percent increase from 2021, according to a statement issued by FNF Pakistan.

With teachers, social workers, lawyers, students, journalists, and representatives from different relevant departments present on the occasion, the session was informed that the state was responsible for the promotion and protection of child rights.

Child rights expert Imran Takar briefed the participants on different aspects of child abuse. He said child abuse often led to various psychological problems, causing victims to grow up fearful and experience mental health issues.

FNF Pakistan’s head of the program Mohammad Anwar stated that symptoms of sexual abuse included frightening behavior such as nightmares, depression, abnormal fear, attempts to run away, and the development of extremely inappropriate sexual behavior for the child’s age.

He pointed out that 50 percent of child abuse victims were acquainted with their abusers, who could come from any class, caste, religion, or ethnic group. He added the abuser could be a man, woman, child, acquaintance of the child, or a stranger.

On the occasion, senior journalist Shamim Shahid informed the participants of the root causes of the children-related issues like uncontrolled increase in population and political instability in the country.

He said due to economic problems, parents often sent their children to work. He said the state was responsible for the promotion and protection of child rights.

He said laws were in place for the promotion and protection of human rights, but they could not be implemented. He said to overcome the issue there was an urgent need for all stakeholders to work together.

Source: Dawn