ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday reserved its verdict on the bail application of a woman accused of torturing her husband and two minor daughters.
The courtroom witnessed a moment of levity when the defence’s own arguments sparked bouts of laughter.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, who was hearing the application, observed the unusual atmosphere and remarked to the defence counsel: “You yourself are laughing, and the entire court is laughing too.”
The advocate had argued that the suspect, Amna Saeed, had a PhD in philosophy and was a victim of complex family issues she chose not to disclose in court, while simultaneously admitting that she had beaten her husband on three separate occasions.
When the lawyer attempted to justify the assault, claiming that even if the woman had hit in anger, she was the “lordship of the house” (Malkin-i-Ghar), the courtroom erupted in laughter once again.
A visibly amused Justice Soomro quipped: “Is this woman a commando?” He further jested: “Did you hit him and take him to the hospital in the car?”
The judge also questioned the investigating officer (IO) regarding the suspect’s psychological state. When asked whether the woman’s mental health was evaluated, the IO responded in the negative, stating that no such examination had been conducted.
According to the medico-legal certificate (MLC) issued by Pims, which was placed before the court, the victim is a 14-year-old girl, identified as Mahom, daughter of Amna.
The MLC stated that the minor was brought to Pims on July 6 with a history of physical assault allegedly carried out with PVC pipes and metallic rods. The victim had been previously admitted to CMH and was referred to Pims after developing acute kidney injury due to Rhabdomyolysis.
Clinical findings recorded in the MLC noted that all four limbs of the victim were “covered with medicreep bandage, soaked with secretions and blood.”
Additionally, a one-centimetre lacerated wound was found on the centre of the forehead, a three-centimetre bruise on the parietal scalp, and large bruises were detected over the neck and shoulders. The report further confirmed that a CT scan of the brain and X-rays were conducted, and the minor patient remained in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Pims.
The case was registered at the Women Police Station. Police documents indicated that ASI Farzana Begum had initiated the preliminary proceedings with official filings dated June 4 and July 6, 2026.
Talking to Dawn, Imran Feroz Malik, counsel for Ms Saeed, said police had wrongly invoked Section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code as it was infighting between the married couple and children. He said this could be a case of domestic violence in which the court can grant bail to his client.
Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2026
