The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave temporary custody of Tayyaba, the child maid allegedly tortured by her employers to Pakistan Sweet Homes, a government-sponsored orphanage.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar — who is presiding over the three-member bench hearing the case — also ordered that the girl be kept away from those claiming to be her parents.

Last week, the apex court, after taking suo moto notice of the case, had ordered DNA tests to confirm the identity of the girl's parents after they submitted affidavits in court claiming that they had reached a settlement with the girls' employers, who have been accused of torturing the minor.

During the hearing, the girl appeared in court along with her alleged parents, Mohammad Azam and Nusrat Bibi.

"We have three children, two daughters and one son," Mohammad Azam told the bench.

"We found out on television that she had been tortured," he added.

During the hearing, the judge ordered that the DNA report be submitted before the court as soon as it is ready.

The judge appointed Islamabad's deputy inspector general of police (DIG) operations as to lead the investigative efforts and stopped the Human Rights Commission from conducting investigations.

"Whatever happens will happen through the police," the CJP said.

The judge instructed that a report be submitted before the court within ten days and advised the DIG to seek the help of experts while undertaking his investigations.