In brief
Iqra, who had been accused of stealing chocolates from her employers, succumbed to severe injuries, sparking widespread calls for justice and systemic reforms.
In a harrowing incident that has shaken the nation, a couple in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, faces detention on suspicion of murdering a 13-year-old child maid, identified only as Iqra, after she was accused of stealing chocolates from them. The girl succumbed to multiple injuries in the hospital last Wednesday, leading investigators to determine that she had been tortured. This shocking case has ignited widespread outrage online, with the hashtag #JusticeforIqra trending amid a deeper discussion about child labor and the abuse of domestic workers in the country.Iqra's father, Sana Ullah, expressed his despair, recounting how he rushed to the hospital upon receiving a call from police, only to find his daughter unresponsive. She had started working as a maid at the tender age of eight, in order to help support her struggling family, as her father battled debts from farming. Employed for two years by the couple who have eight children, Iqra reportedly earned a meager £23 ($28) per month.According to police, evidence suggests that Iqra's employers frequently abused her, leading to severe injuries including multiple fractures and a serious head injury. An autopsy has been ordered to collect further details. Activists have rallied around the girl’s case, highlighting the systemic issues that allow for such exploitation and violence against children, especially in domestic settings. Many have expressed disbelief that a child's life could be taken over something as trivial as a stolen treat.The couple charged with her murder, Rashid Shafiq and his wife Sana, have been taken into custody along with a Quran teacher associated with the family. The latter reportedly brought Iqra to the hospital under dubious circumstances, misleading staff about her family situation. Iqra’s father has demanded justice for his daughter, emphasizing the need for accountability in a country where cases of child abuse often languish without proper legal resolution. Historically, such incidents have seen perpetrators evade justice, typically resulting in settlements rather than criminal prosecution. A notorious previous case involved a judge sentenced for torturing a child maid, whose lengthy legal ordeal showed just how difficult it can be to achieve justice for child victims in Pakistan. Despite some laws intended to protect children, there remains a deep-rooted culture of abuse, especially against the most vulnerable.According to UNICEF, about 3.3 million children in Pakistan are engaged in child labor, with girls constituting the majority of the country's domestic workforce, as reported by the International Labour Organisation. As this tragic event unfolds, many are urging for systemic change to protect children from exploitation and violence in their own homes.
