The Islamabad High Court on Monday suspended the sentence of a judge and his wife in a case involving torture of a child domestic helper.
The decision came in an appeal filed by suspended additional district and sessions judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife Maheen Zafar who challenged their year-long imprisonment on Friday.
A two-member bench of IHC, comprising justices Azharmanullah and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, suspended the sentence and adjourned the hearing till the second week of May.
On April 17, the IHC announced its verdict in the Tayyaba torture case after proceedings that continued for over a year.
IHC Justice Aamer Farooq ruled that suspended ADSJ Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife Maheen Zafar would serve a year each in prison under Section 328-A (cruelty to a child) for torturing the child.
The two were also fined Rs50,000 each for the crime of employing an underage (below 12 years of age) child.
However, the accused were acquitted in the other more serious charges filed against them.
Following the verdict, the accused filed a bail plea which was approved by the same bench. The couple’s seven-day bail ended on Monday.
On December 29, 2016, Tayyaba, a 10-year-old child, was recovered by neighbours from the house of the judge after receiving complaints of torture. The issue sparked outrage on social media and led to calls for swift justice.
Subsequently, a first information report (FIR) was filed against the judge and his wife at the I-9 police station.
An inquiry report by the police found that the judge’s wife was responsible for torturing the child. The judge was charged with indirect criminal negligence.
Published in Daily Times, April 24th 2018.
