AMRAIZ KHAN
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued protective bail to Somia Asim, the wife of a civil judge, in connection with a domestic help abuse case. The bail was granted until August 1, as per the decision made by Justice Farooq Haider during the plea hearing.
The case came to light when reports emerged that Somia Asim had allegedly tortured a 14-year-old maid at her residence in Sargodha. The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police acted on the girl’s father’s report and registered a case against Somia under sections 506 and 342 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
The victim, identified as Rizwana from 88 North, Sargodha, had been employed as a domestic worker at the house of the civil judge, thanks to an acquaintance named Mukhtar.
Rizwana’s parents reported that their daughter had been working at the judge’s house for six months and had been subjected to severe torture by the judge’s wife. They alleged that the girl’s body bore marks of the violence inflicted upon her. In response, the civil judge posted at the Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad refuted the allegations of violence. He claimed to be against any form of violence and stated that his wife had only handed over the girl to her mother as a punishment for allegedly stealing gold. He further accused the girl’s mother of beating her.
Contradicting the judge’s statement, Sargodha DPO Faisal Kamran confirmed that the girl had indeed sustained severe injuries to her head and face due to violence. Additionally, there was visible swelling on her right arm. The victim was taken to the DHQ hospital in Sargodha for medical treatment, and later she was transferred to Lahore for further medical assistance.
As the case continues to develop, the Lahore High Court’s decision to grant protective bail to Somia Asim has allowed her temporary protection from immediate arrest until the specified date, August 1.
