ISLAMABAD: The capital police have added eight more sections of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to the FIR registered against the wife of a civil judge in the torture case of a 13-year-old maid.

Officers of the capital police said section 324 (attempted murder) was added to the FIR in response to the statement of the victim’s father after it was made part of the police file through a case diary on July 26.

The other seven sections were added to the FIR in response to the Medico-Legal Certificate (MLC) issued by the DHQ Teaching Hospital Sargodha. A police team sent to Sargodha brought the MLC which was made the part of police file through a case diary by adding a supplementary statement on July 29.

The seven sections added are: 337-A (i) (shajjah-i-khafifah) meaning hurt by any weapon on head or face without exposing bone of the victim, 337-A (ii) (shajjah-i-mudihah) hurt by any weapon on head or face where through bone is exposed but no fracture is caused, 337-A (iii) (shajjah-i-hashimah) grievous hurt by any weapon on head or face resulting in fracture of bone of the victim without dislocating it, 337-F (i) (Damihah) an injury in which the skin is ruptured and bleeding occurs, and 337-F (v) (Hashimah), 337-L (ii) (punishment for other hurt) and 334 (Itlaf-Udw) to destroy a limb or organ.

The officers said the sections were added to the case keeping in view the evidence received through the MLC by the police. The police were also considering adding sections 3 (b) (compelled labour) of Prevention of Trafficking in Person Act 2018 to the case, they added.

More sections of the relevant law may also be added to the case in the light of new evidence and statements whenever the police get them, the officers said.

The investigators of the case are not in a hurry as they do not want to weaken the case. They are waiting for evidence to make strong grounds for adding more sections.

“Some sections of separate laws can also be added to the FIR right now, but at this stage it may weaken the case and as a result the victim’s family may also suffer,” the officers said.

The judge’s wife is on protective bail till August 1. She has to appear in the capital’s sessions court for its confirmation otherwise it would stand expired, said the officers.

A police team is with the injured maid in Lahore and is in contact with the girl’s family and the doctors of the hospital where she is admitted.

The team will bring the girl to Islamabad on the doctors’ advice after her condition stabilises, the officers added.

Published in Dawn, Aug 1st, 2023