August 28, 2008	Thursday	Sha'aban 25, 1429

LARKANA, Aug 27: Police registered on Wednesday an FIR against a local landlord, Misbah Isran, and his wife on charges of burning their housemaid’s arm and cutting her hair as a punishment.

ASI Ghulam Nabi Abro lodged the FIR on behalf of the state after a medical report confirmed the 13-year-old maid, Zeenat Bughio, had been tortured and on the basis of her statement that Isran’s wife had burned her right arm and cut her hair about a month ago over a dispute.

A source privy to the dispute said that Isran’s wife got annoyed and subjected Zeenat to torture when she announced that she was planning to get married soon.

They asked her not to marry now because they needed her, the source said, adding, that Zeenat’s employers were concerned about who would do the household chores after she left and tried to force her to change the decision.

SPO Karim Bakhsh Bhayo conducted raid on Isran’s house in Sachal Colony but found nobody there. The bungalow was locked from outside.

DPO Syed Baqar Raza said that police had also raided Isran’s house in Khairpur Joso village and learnt that he and his wife had fled to Karachi.

The medical report prepared by Dr Afshan Bhatti confirmed that the housemaid had a month old burn mark on her right arm, sources said.

Police, meanwhile, released Zeenat, her mother Amna and maternal uncle Shoukat after recording their statements.

Police had picked Zeenat, her mother and maternal uncle from Khairpur Jooso village following reports that Zeenat’s employers had subjected her to torture.

Larkana’s DIG Shoukat Shah had on Friday ordered inquiry into the reports and appointed ASP city Nasir Muneef Qureshi as inquiry officer.

Zeenat had earlier denied she had been tortured apparently under pressure from her employer.