RAWALPINDI: A seven-year-old domestic worker was allegedly beaten to death by her employers in Bahria Town Phase VIII on Monday.

Zohara Shah, originally from Muzaffargarh, was brought to Rawalpindi four months ago to look after the child of a man living in Bahria Town Phase VIII in Rawat, who worked in buying and selling birds and property.

Her alleged physical abuse came to light after her employer brought her to a local hospital and then left her there. The hospital staff later called the police.

Shah was hired by the man after he has one of his friends to find a child domestic worker to look after his own child.

The initial investigation suggested that he told her parents that he would look after her, educate her and treat her like a daughter.

On Sunday, the child freed some caged parrots, enraging her employers. The allegedly beat her so severely that she eventually died.

Saddar Superintendent of Police Ziauddin told Dawn that Shah was unconscious when she was brought to the hospital. She was placed on a ventilator but died in the early hours of Monday.

Mr Ziauddin said that the police have registered a case that includes rape charges. He said the victim was brought the hospital bleeding and with marks of torture.

Whether or not the victim was raped in addition to being beaten will be ascertained based on the forensic laboratory report, he said, adding that she was kicked repeatedly, which caused bleeding.

The couple who had employed the victim confessed to beating her while they were in police custody. They will be produced in court for remand custody.

According to the police report, the body of the victim bore marks of torture and injuries to her ribs, a wound on her left arm, torture marks on her thigh and marks on her abdomen.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2020