Child Maid Tortured To Death For Freeing Pet Parrots
A child maid, identified as Zohara Shah, was allegedly tortured so brutally that she succumbed to her wounds in a Rawalpindi’s local hospital on Monday. People on social media are demanding the police officials and Ministry for Human Rights to take strict action against the maid’s employers using the hashtag #JusticeForZohraShah.
DAWN reported that Zohara Shah originally belonged to Muzaffargarh, but was brought to Rawalpindi four months ago to look after the child of a couple living in Bahria Town Phase VIII in Rawat. The man who hired Zohara as child maid, worked in buying and selling birds and property.
The maid’s alleged physical abuse came to light after her employer brought her to a local hospital and then left her there. The hospital staff later called the police. The initial investigation suggested that on Sunday, Zohara freed some caged parrots, enraging her employers. The allegedly beat her so severely that she was placed on a ventilator but died in the early hours of Monday.
Saddar Superintendent of Police (SP) Ziauddin told the newspaper that the child maid was unconscious when she was brought to the hospital. He said that the police have registered a case that includes rape charges. He said the victim was brought the hospital bleeding and with marks of torture.
“Whether or not the victim was raped in addition to being beaten will be ascertained based on the forensic laboratory report. However, it’s very much certain that she was kicked repeatedly, which caused bleeding,” the police official said.
The couple who had employed the victim confessed to beating her while they were in police custody. They will be produced in court for remand custody soon.
Social media activists are condemning the criminal behaviour of Zohara’s employers on Twitter. Journalist Zarrar Khuhro reacted strongly on the incident and said, “Beating a seven year old child to death because she accidentally released your ‘expensive parrots’. Hell has run out of space and the demons walk among us.”
Beating a seven year old child to death because she accidentally released your 'expensive parrots'. Hell has run out of space and the demons walk among us. #zohra
— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) June 2, 2020
This is despicable. Not only do people shanelessly employ children as young as SEVEN for domestic work, they also beat them & KILL them. There has to be an effective way to enforce laws against child labour……
#JusticeForZohraShah pic.twitter.com/0hMgjaIB7W— Muhammad Dawood Umar Awan (@MDawoodAwan2) June 3, 2020
The birds left the cage
An Angel left the Universe ?#JusticeForZohraShah pic.twitter.com/HmdUENvj0F— Anas? (@Anasayzz) June 3, 2020
Activist Usama Khilji said, “Not only do people shamelessly employ children as young as seven for domestic work, they also beat and kill them.”
This is despicable. Not only do people shanelessly employ children as young as SEVEN for domestic work, they also beat them & KILL them. There has to be an effective way to enforce laws against child labour. @mohrpakistan #JusticeForZohraShah https://t.co/n1KuLSNX1N
— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) June 2, 2020
A 7 year old girl was beaten to death by her employers just because she accidentally released the parrots.
I am sick to my stomach. I have no words to express my grief. What world do we live in?#JusticeForZohraShah #StopChildDomesticLabor pic.twitter.com/F4Q7rMnhnF— Sadia Ahmad (@SadiaTheSadia) June 3, 2020
Extremism, indifference and lack of tolerance are the most striking traits of Pakistani society in the contemporary times. We as a society have failed humanity on so many levels.#JusticeForZohraShah pic.twitter.com/m2o8mSHluF
— Sabtain Nasir (@SabtainNasir5) June 3, 2020
Just got to know that the life of a Pakistani child is worth less than the loss of a few parrots. #JusticeForZohraShah pic.twitter.com/5mm0uJIQVV
— Osama Zulfiqar Babakhel (@osama_babakhel) June 2, 2020
Naya Daur Media (NDM) is a bi-lingual progressive digital media platform aiming to inform and educate Pakistanis at home and abroad. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow us on Facebook Twitter and Instagram