A 15-year-old domestic helper was allegedly tortured by her employer in Bahadurabad area in Karachi where she has been working for the past one-and-a-half years, police and her father said on Monday.
The girl was working as a domestic help at the house of a local builder in Kokan Society located on Alamgir Road.
District East SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro told Dawn that police on Monday received an application by the girl’s father, through a courier service, in which he alleged that his daughter had been assaulted by the house owner.
The senior officer said that the family has not formally approached the police to get a first information report (FIR) registered, so a medical examination of the girl was yet to be done in connection with ascertaining the veracity of the allegations.
SSP Soomro said that around four months ago the house owner had moved a complaint before Bahadurabad police station, alleging that his house helper had stolen over Rs80,000 but he did not get the FIR registered.
Subsequently, both the parties agreed to "settle" the matter without the intervention of the police, he said, adding that parents of the girl had taken her away following the settlement.
However, on Monday, the girl’s father alleged before the media that the house owner had threatened and compelled him to sign on blank papers in the presence of police.
The girl's father said that when he brought his daughter to their home in Qayumabad her health condition started deteriorating, whereas, she, according to her father, disclosed that she was subjected to criminal assault by the house owner.
The employer also allegedly administered injections to her and the signs of administrating injections were visible on her hands, the father claimed.
The victim's father further clarified that he did not approach the police directly because he did not expect justice from them as he had already been threatened in the presence of several policemen to get the issue “settled.”
Know more: Torture & young domestic workers
The father also alleged that his daughter, who used to get Rs8,000 monthly pay from her employer, was locked in a washroom of the house. The owner did not allow the family of the girl to meet her, he also alleged.
Bahadurabad SHO Ghanwar Ali Mahar confirmed to Dawn that he received an application from the family’s lawyer through court. He said the application doesn't contain any cell phone number to contact the family.
The SHO said the court will take up the application of the girl’s father on December 20; till then they will have to wait for the court’s orders for taking further action.
