Other chores some housemaids do on the side A number of thefts and robberies in Islamabad have been traced to women who come looking for work as housemaids in the posh areas of the city and upon succeeding in securing a job have made good their escape with whatever valuables they manage to lay their hands on. City police claim investigations have found that some of them work in teams with men and scout for houses that would be easy and profitable targets. Dozens of robberies, burglaries and theft incidents have been reported in rich sectors like Mehran-E, Shalimar-F, Ramna-G and Industrial Area-I. Twenty case were registered with the Shalimar and Margalla police stations, 10 in Sabzi Mandi and Industrial Area police stations, and one in Aabpara. The amount of stolen goods runs into million of rupees. Despite several arrests recovery of stolen goods could not be made as these women sought refuge under the Women Protection Bill. Majority of the maids involved in thefts and robberies belonged to central Punjab, including Hafizabad, Jhang and Faisalabad, and, according to police, they enjoyed the protection and support of the influential people of their areas. Whether these bigwigs had a share in the booty could not be ascertained, but surely their support in saving them from going to jail could not be free. On a number of occasions police arrested the maids in cases of theft and robberies and got their confession during investigation but when taken to court they retracted their statements and got released on bail. In this they were backed by the Women Protection Bill. Under the law the accused could not be given in police custody for remand which made the investigation ineffective. Their release on bail interrupted the investigation process and the recovery of the stolen goods was also made difficult as after their release the maids disappeared from the city for a while only to return to commit more crimes. This was affecting police performance and the crimes also continue to be committed. Police said there were a number of women, who were arrested more than once but were able to get themselves released on bail under the Women Protection Bill, citing a case in Sector G-11 where the thief was caught, confessed to her crime during investigation, retracted before the judge and upon being released taunted the police with a fresh confession. Police have repeatedly sought the help of citizens in curbing thefts by maids by thoroughly verifying the antecedents of women who came looking for a job by checking their CNICs and ascertaining references but people have not demonstrated necessary caution. Police distributed pamphlets and brochures among residents and displayed roadside banners for awareness. But public response has not been encouraging. Police have helped residents run a check on their servants when they were approached and provided necessary warning if the record was not found verifiable. Among the more daring are groups who come to the house of the rich in twos and threes and upon being allowed in take out weapons and force women inmates to surrender their valuables which they collect while their men companions wait outside keeping watch. Such a group was busted on May 5 by Crime Investigation Agency and its four members, including three women, were arrested and looted valuables recovered. Mohammad Akram, resident of Street 33, Sector I-8/2, lodged a complaint with the Industrial Area police stating that some unknown women had entered his house on the pretext of getting work as housemaid and overpowered his wife and child. They threatened his wife to handover all valuables to them otherwise they would inject them with poison. They got away with cash, mobiles and gold ornaments worth Rs500,000. They were arrested and confessed to other robberies of this nature. Some other groups after being employed spend a few days in the house and try to learn where the valuables were kept. This makes the task easier for them and their accomplices. Some of them when refused a job ask the lady of the house for a glass of water or a piece of bread and when she has departed to earn some ‘sawab’ the women have entered the house and overpowered the inmates showing firearms. Other housemaids provide information to robbers and thieves for a fee and it is hard to suspect their complicity. Some of them have been found to be regular members of gangs of thieves and burglars. They provided not only information about the employers’ financial position but also kept entry and exit points open for nightly missions.
A number of thefts and robberies in Islamabad have been traced to women who come looking for work as housemaids in the posh areas of the city and upon succeeding in securing a job have made good their escape with whatever valuables they manage to lay their hands on.
