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Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has taken suo moto notice of the alleged torture of a child maid in Islamabad, a Supreme Court spokesperson told DawnNews.
The notice was taken after media reported that the father of the 10-year-old 'forgave' her alleged tormentors.
The registrar at Islamabad High Court has been asked to submit a detailed report within 24 hours on the matter.
A medical board comprising a general surgeon, a plastic surgeon, a burn surgeon and a psychiatrist, was constituted by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) after the Office of District Magistrate Islamabad issued a letter to the hospital administration, asking it "to re-examine" the wounds on the girl's body.
The letter had stated that there were wounds on the back side of the victim which "could not be seen in the earlier examination".
It further stated that the Islamabad police senior superintendent assigned to the case had requested for such a board to be formed so that the investigation could conclude "on merits".
The initial medical examination report issued by PIMS had stated the wounds on the girl's body were the result of blunt trauma, and the burns were attributed to an "accidental matchbox".
The newly formed board has been asked to submit its report in 48 hours.
The case came to light last week after photos of the child following the alleged torture began circulating on social media.
In a First Information Report, the 10-year-old girl stated that she had been living at the house of Additional District and Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan for nearly two years.
The girl claimed that she was often beaten up in the house. Most recently, she alleged ‘Mano Baji’, Khan's wife, shoved her hands onto a burning stove and then beat her after a broom went missing.
She said the owners of the house would usually lock her up in a storeroom at night besides starving and beating her.
The police took the girl into custody after recovering her from the house of the judge.
However, the father of the child appeared in court on Tuesday and said he had "no objections" to the court granting bail to the suspects. He claimed that he had investigated the matter on his own and found the case to be a false one.
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On DawnNews
Comments (59) Closed
Jan 04, 2017 03:50pm
GREAT! Timely notice has taken.
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Jan 04, 2017 03:55pm
Good decision. it's clear that the poor father "forgave" the perpetrators under duress. justice is for all.
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Jan 04, 2017 03:56pm
Still this would appear a case of powerful getting all the benefits.
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Jan 04, 2017 03:56pm
henceforth starts the busy tenure of Justice Saqib Nisar - he will make major changes! Lets hope they turn out to be good changes!
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Jan 04, 2017 04:00pm
Thanks to CJP for taking the suo motu.
The greedy "father" of abused little girl maid should be prosecuted also.
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Jan 04, 2017 04:04pm
Suo moto on domestic issues why not on national issues like corruption specially from ruling party ..
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Jan 04, 2017 04:03pm
What are our politicians doing if SC has to everything .. they might as well run the country save ourselves a fortune by closing the great called paraliment
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Jan 04, 2017 04:05pm
We will definitely require both, notices and actions !
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Jan 04, 2017 04:10pm
@STARZAN Totally agree with your comment, it is sad that a father after seeing what happened to his child had asked that the court should forgive the accused. Both the parties should be prosecuted for allowing and using child labour, and physical violence against the child.
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Jan 04, 2017 04:06pm
my strong view may be i am wrong that a judge cannot make law.But,in Pakistan courts the suo motu cases are very prominent and many orders were passed.The taken up case is called suo motu. The duty of the Court is to interpret the law that too with the intention of the legislatures to reach the society for its benefit. However, in many cases, the court takes up a case based on media reporting or a letter addressed to it. The social evil can be very well questioned by a Court, but for that the court require a petition filed by the affected party. With out a petition a case cannot be taken up. whether Pakistan Constitution have the provisions to enabled the Supreme Court and High Courts respectively to issue any directions or pass order to do or refrain to do an act.
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Jan 04, 2017 04:08pm
This is a great step...lets hope it also does not get buried. Culprits from all sections should be brought to justice,
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Jan 04, 2017 04:08pm
The credit goes to DAWN News as it highlighted the issue.
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Jan 04, 2017 04:10pm
Hats off for new Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and the whole nation expects that he will be very much judicious in dispensing justice and punishes everyone be in power or not. Very good start as such. Panama leak case involving PM Mian Nawaz Sharif is a test case in any case. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi.formerdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Jan 04, 2017 04:13pm
@STARZAN not necessarily greedy. Probably coerced. They must have threatened and blackmailed him. Why would they pay him when they can scare him.
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Jan 04, 2017 04:13pm
Thanks God for that.
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Jan 04, 2017 04:14pm
Finally, some glimmer of hope for our justice system and for the poor girl.
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Jan 04, 2017 04:18pm
It is important that there should be a strict enforcement of Law. I do understand that due to poverty many children are forced to work. However there should be constant monitoring and every such child who is employed needs to be registered with some authority and similar to foster homes in the west, government functionaries are to do surprise visit and violations need to be taken seriously and culprits needs to be punished to set an example.
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Jan 04, 2017 04:17pm
@khanm but what when either the society is sleeping or when a person using his position and power gets the chances of any justice buried, like in this case. Who will in such a case file any petition against a sitting judge or against a police officer. We are not living in a free and civilized society. Its good to talk of human rights and principles but more important is justice to suppressed, powerless and general people !
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Jan 04, 2017 04:22pm
In fear of life and being locking up, what e4lse a poor man could do. Here there are from fundamental to the most serious have been committed by the called Judge.
1. How a judge, the protector of the law can employ a 7/8 years old child (girl).
2. The torture rendered to the child can be easily established.
3. When, how, by whom, where the child's poor father was pressurized to forgive the charges.
4. All concerned including in any police person involved (even to minimum) must be brought to book.
Here in London and rest of the civilized countries, Pakistan is seen as a pariah state. Often the world Pakistan stands for an extremist, fundamentalist, narrow-minded society that runs under feudal systems. PSC please help us to live in peace at least in foreign lands and save us from constant abuse from sons of the soil of these countries. After the thorough investigation, if found guilty the alleged judge and his family should be made an example for rests of the society.
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Jan 04, 2017 04:24pm
Well done. Let us wait and see what happens to the accused!
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Jan 04, 2017 04:27pm
Good Decision
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Jan 04, 2017 04:26pm
Wait for fan outcome rest is speculation and hope.
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Jan 04, 2017 04:30pm
Well done SC!
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Jan 04, 2017 04:37pm
Well done SC every one must get justice
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Jan 04, 2017 04:41pm
Good well done CJ
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Jan 04, 2017 05:08pm
State and society must be ready to protect children if parents fail. This case needs to be pursued vigorously till justice is delivered to the young child.
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Jan 04, 2017 05:12pm
Justice for all well done Cj
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Jan 04, 2017 05:17pm
Great news. Hope truth prevails at the end of the verdict.
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Jan 04, 2017 05:29pm
The accusers must be condemned for their brutal assult and torturing the girl maid. Being a member of judiciary be handed over exemplery punishment if found guilty. The minor girl as a witness is considered authentic. Moreover the circumstantial evidence manifesting to incriminate the couple and both of them are absolutely responsible in committing violence against the poor helpless child.
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Jan 04, 2017 05:31pm
Father of the girl should also be arrested.
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Jan 04, 2017 05:35pm
All Respect for Judiciary
Some sort of procedure should be formulated for these pardons to avoid exploitation of victims, as suo moto cannot be taken for all cases I guess
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Jan 04, 2017 05:47pm
So finaly light in the tunnel.
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Jan 04, 2017 05:45pm
@Fazal Karim true.
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Jan 04, 2017 05:50pm
@STARZAN: Why greedy? If father refuses compensation and prefers punishment to the house lady for his daughter's suffering, will he not suffer by losing better future for himself and his family? You have to be in their shoes for making a correct judgement.
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Jan 04, 2017 05:57pm
CJ SC took very correct action. Be it a judge or lay man,law is equal for all. This spirit will be seen in final verdict of SC inshallah.
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Jan 04, 2017 06:11pm
First, justice must be done to the little girl who has no authority or opinion of her. Second, not only Pakistan but the whole world is waiting to see how this case is being handled.
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Jan 04, 2017 06:27pm
Why SC did not took action before public outcry?
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Jan 04, 2017 06:31pm
@Owais Does the government fear us? Or do we fear the government? When the people fear the government, tyranny has found victory. The federal government is our servant, not our master!..Pal...To escape fear, you have to go through it, not around...
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Jan 04, 2017 07:01pm
@khanm I read all the lines you wrote and they have little substance in them. The constitution of Pakistan guarantees the protection of life, wealth and modesty (jan, maal aur izzat) of every Pakistani citizen and court's job is to interpret the constitution and implement it. Therefore, the CJP's move is absolutely correct.
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Jan 04, 2017 07:08pm
Pakistani nation demands SC and CJ Mian Saqib Nisar to take Suo moto notice over Panama Leaks as well. Thanks
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Jan 04, 2017 07:12pm
Great Job SC!! Hope justice is served without delay or ambiguity....Plus the girl's health and education etc are also taken care off.
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Jan 04, 2017 07:23pm
Also when will the day come when such cases( if they happen) can be justly and swiftly handled by law enforcement and lower courts rather than a SC needing to take suo moto.... but till that time kudos to SC !
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Jan 04, 2017 07:27pm
@STARZAN The "greedy "father" ..... How do you know that , please help out.
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Jan 04, 2017 08:03pm
Thanks Social Media and Thanks SC.
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Jan 04, 2017 08:06pm
@Khalid .Nothing will happen to the alleged culprit. According to Geo news the case has been settled out of the court. The father has forgiven the judge. The case over and shut.
Our system is rigged in favor of rich and influential. The judge was never suspended or taken into custody. The judge is back on his job delivering justice to the people. The whole thing is a white wash to calm down some angry people. The girls screams were heard in the whole neighborhood and no one came to her rescue. If you look at her picture her whole face is swollen and a cut on her right eye. PAKISTAN Zinda bad.
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Jan 04, 2017 08:41pm
This is a v good example for other judges to follow. Hope the honourable CJ of Pakistan will continue upholding the equality of justice for all and alleviating the sufferings of the oppressed people. All praise for the respectable CJ of the Supreme Court.
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Jan 04, 2017 08:57pm
i have a feeling, that the culprit/s will walk free.... lets see if i am proven wrong.
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Jan 04, 2017 09:33pm
Chief Justice is requested to also take suo moto notice for non-payment of retirement dues to retired employees of Pakistan Steel who have been retiring since April 2013. These employees are passing very agonizing days, as the Chief Justice may well imagine.
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Jan 04, 2017 09:36pm
The action has instilled hope in the ordinary people about supremacy of law and its accessibility to ordinary people.
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Jan 04, 2017 09:52pm
What an irony! The home of a person who dispenses justice, is actually dispensing injustice and inhuman acts. If the judge has a conscience, he should resign.
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Jan 04, 2017 09:50pm
Kudos to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan for taking suo moto notice of this case. The judicial officers must be held at a higher standard in such matters.
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Jan 04, 2017 09:56pm
@alien Its more important than corruption.
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Jan 04, 2017 10:45pm
Girl should be taken away from her father an put in some safe hands. Accused if found guilty should be fined and money should be put in trust to take care of her education.
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Jan 04, 2017 11:17pm
If there was even an iota of good governance the SC would not have needed to step in.......political patronage of the worst sorts has lead to this pitiable state of affairs.
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Jan 05, 2017 12:44am
@khanm: You are wrong. Parliament can make laws but parliament cannot make laws that violate fundamental human rights, and if they do, then SC can struck out such laws.
Unfortunately in Pakistan, SC was always lenient towards people in power, what is wrong, unjust and reason for most ills. For instance, corruption and nepotism violates fundamental human rights, as it is misuse of power by people in authority that effects ordinary citizen. Thus, SC should act and punish culprits who do corruption and nepotism severely, regardless of law.
For instance, even if parliament enact law that parliamentarians can take their cut from whatever they receive from treasury to spend for the people, appoint people without merit (nepotism), or can take commission on govt contracts, than SC can struck out such laws.
In above case, human right of a minor girl got violated, and thus it is duty of state (or court) to punish the culprit appropriately, giving justice and safeguarding rights of the girl.
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Jan 05, 2017 06:39am
Salute to Chief Justice. This is a test case for his Lordship. If the offence is proved beyond reasonable doubt the accused may be awarded an exemplary punishment
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Jan 05, 2017 09:12am
@Sukhera
It would be shameful for the whole nation if the culprits (the judge and his wife) are able to go scot-free.
A test case for the new CJ.
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Jan 05, 2017 10:05am
The whole nation should thanks to almighty that the girl was not killed and is still alive since even she was killed nothing could happen;here culprits somehow get out of all inquiries.Earlier in Multan, about 2-3 years ago a house servant of 10-11 years of age was killed by the mistress for breaking a jug made of glass,and since then nothing happened-only a case was registered with the police, and media people talked for a day or two and then forgot.The accused mistress is still at large;since she is influential( some GILANI of Multan), so she is free even after murdering a child;police is saying she is absconding but perhaps she is living in her own house.Chief justice is prayed to take suo motto of that case also.
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Jan 05, 2017 10:54am
CJ well done, can we please have the couple put behind bar till the case is investigated!
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