RAWALPINDI: A police officer has been suspended for failing to bring to attention the abuse of a child employed as a maid after a video of the incident went viral on Saturday.

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari also took notice of the issue. She tweeted: “On the young maid abuse case this is the latest info we have on it from CPO Pindi. We will be following it to ensure FIR registration & further action. Child is [-]. Her father initially denied violence hapeened. Now an ASI has been suspended 4 wrong investigation (sic).”

She added: “To reiterate to all those tagging me in their tweets on this horrendous crime, since morning we are on it. We are also in process of drafting a comprehensive bill for protection of domestic workers (incl banning child workers) (sic).”

Dr Mazari added that a police team has been sent to Sumandri to fetch the victim and her parents.

“After medical examination an FIR will be registered. Army has also been informed as the suspect is an Army doctor. We are keeping a close eye to ensure justice for the little girl,” she stated.

The assistant sub-inspector (ASI) who was suspended over the incident was identified as ASI Sajjad Hussain, who was posted at the Airport police station.

According to the police, the 11-year-old was employed in the home of a doctor serving in the Army Medical Corps in Wilayat Colony for the last few months.

The couple allegedly abused the child, who managed to escape their house and took refuge with a neighbour. The woman recorded a video of the child that went viral on social media, garnering attention from the public and from high-level government figures.

The couple later summoned the child’s father and handed her over to him, and her father took her back to Sumandri without reporting the matter to the police or taking the couple to court.

However, the city police officer (CPO) took action in this regard after learning of the video online.

CPO Abbas Ahsan told Dawn a neighbour had also reported the incident on the police’s emergency 15 helpline to officials from the Airport police station.

He alleged that Mr Hussain visited the crime scene after this report, but “hushed up” the matter and did not inform senior officers.

He said the father of the victim had testified in an affidavit that he did not want to take legal action against the couple. “The incident came to light at 4pm last Friday, and the ASI visited the house where the girl was working,” he said.

Mr Ahsan said he had formed a special police team led by Airport Station House Officer Amir Khan that had been dispatched to Sumandri to bring the victim and her father back to Rawalpindi and make them complainants against the couple andthe child can undergo a medical examination.

He said the Faisalabad superintendent of police had also been contacted to make arrangements.

“The matter has also been in the notice of army authorities, as they have their own system to take action against accused who belongs to them,” CPO Ahsan said.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2018