LAHORE: Delay in preparation of postmortem report of the domestic worker who was allegedly tortured to death by a daughter of a PML-N MPA is creating doubts about its validity.

Usually doctors take a few hours to conduct autopsy and prepare a report but delay of three days in the domestic worker’s killing case is incomprehensible.

Police sources allege that the medical officer is delaying the autopsy report at the behest of the accused party. They also accuse the MPA of trying to use her influence to secure a favourable postmortem report.

A senior police officer told Dawn that the domestic worker had suffered torture marks on 60pc parts of his body. He said marks of old as well as fresh wounds had been found on the body of the deceased.

The suspect, Fouzia, had not joined police investigation so far despite a telephonic contact established by the investigating officer. The house of the accused has been locked for the last three days and she has already obtained pre-arrest bail from the sessions court. The investigator also expressed apprehension that the accused could flee the country.

Child Welfare and Protection Bureau chairperson Ms Saba Sadiq said they were waiting for the grieved family to reach Lahore for a complaint and registration of a case against the MPA for employing minors as domestic workers. She said the bureau also wanted to know about the medical report of the slain teenager’s sister, Atiya, who was also tortured.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2017