THE child-maid abuse case has exposed the contradictions and horrific realities of Pakistani society. Employing child maids on a 24x7 basis is a common practice in most of the well-to-do families in urban areas.

It was sheer hard luck that the family of the Additional District and Sessions judge (ADSJ), which allegedly tortured Tayyaba, came under the spotlight for something which is not very uncommon. Thanks to the media the case reached the court wherein another horrendous reality was waiting for Tayyaba.

The lawyer, representing Tayyaba’s parents, was in fact working to save the system — to strike a deal between the ADSJ’s family and Tayyaba’s parents. Money must have exchanged hands ,and the child’s parents signed the unconditional deal pardoning the ADSJ’s family.

Soon after another judge ordered the women crisis centre to hand over the child’s custody to her parents. File closed — it was a win-win case for all the parties (except Tayyaba).

The ADSJ’s lawyer was not far from proving the wickedness of the system. He tried to give another twist to the drama by claiming that the ADSJ’s family has, in fact, adopted the child and always treated her as their own daughter.

The apex court, in my opinion, should recommend a few improvements in the child-labour laws.

Masood Khan

Jubail

Published in Dawn January 12th, 2017