Outrage in Pakistan Following Alleged Murder of Young Maid Over Chocolate Theft

Iqra, a 13-year-old maid who allegedly faced torture for stealing chocolates, died in a Rawalpindi hospital, prompting arrests and significant public outcry. This incident sheds light on the ongoing issues of child labour and the safety of domestic workers in Pakistan, with many calling for justice and reforms.

In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves across Pakistan, a 13-year-old girl known as Iqra died after allegedly being murdered by her employers for reportedly stealing chocolates. The gruesome details of her case have ignited widespread outrage and raised alarms about child labour and the treatment of domestic workers in the country.

Iqra succumbed to her injuries in a Rawalpindi hospital last Wednesday. Preliminary investigations by the police indicate that she was subjected to torture, and her case is attracting considerable attention on social media under the hashtag #JusticeforIqra, amassing thousands of views and voicing the urgent need for societal change.

Iqra began working as a maid at the tender age of eight. Her father, Sana Ullah, a 45-year-old farmer struggling with debt, admitted that he sent her to work out of desperation. Over the years, she earned approximately £23 ($28) monthly, despite her employers, a couple with eight children, allegedly subjecting her to abuse.

Upon learning of his daughter’s hospitalization, her father rushed to the scene only to find her unconscious. Only minutes after arriving, Iqra was pronounced dead. Reports from the hospital confirmed multiple injuries, including fractures and severe trauma.

Activists have expressed their outrage, questioning the trivial nature of the alleged theft that led to such a horrific fate. Shehr Bano, an activist, lamented over the violence faced by the vulnerable, stating, "How long will the poor continue to lower their daughters into graves in this way?"

Authorities arrested Iqra's employers, Rashid Shafiq and his wife, along with a Quran teacher linked to the family, who initially brought Iqra to the hospital under suspicious circumstances.

Despite the public fury often surrounding cases like this, legal resolution remains uncertain. Historically, many such incidents are resolved outside of the court system, leading to a lack of accountability for perpetrators.

The systemic issues contributing to child labour in Pakistan are staggering, with around 3.3 million children engaged in such work, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef). Women and girls account for a significant portion of the 8.5 million domestic workers in the country, as noted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Iqra’s father is calling for justice, desiring punishment for those responsible for his daughter's death. However, as previous high-profile child abuse cases have demonstrated, securing justice remains a challenging endeavor in a system that frequently fails to protect the vulnerable.