ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) announced its verdict today in the Tayyaba torture case after over a year-long period of proceedings.
IHC Justice Aamer Farooq ruled that Additional District and Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife Maheen Zafar would serve a year each in prison for torturing the child maid.
The two have also been fined Rs50,000 each for the crime of employing an underage (below 12 years of age) child.
The accused were present in court today when the judgment was read out.
The judgment was reserved on March 27 after the court heard the final arguments from both the sides.
On December 29, 2016, Tayyaba, a 10-year-old domestic help, was recovered from the house of the judge after receiving complaints of torture from neighbours. The issue sparked outrage on social media and led to calls for strict and 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 had found that the judge’s wife was responsible for torturing the child maid, and Khurram of indirect criminal negligence.
Later, on January 3, 2017, Tayyaba’s parents reached a compromise and forgave the accused.
However, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took a suo motu notice of the compromise agreement and ordered the IHC to conduct a trial of the case.
In total, the statements of 19 witnesses were recorded in the case, wherein 11 were from civil servants and eight from private witnesses, including Tayyaba’s parents.
