February 8, 2021
By Asra Haque
LAHORE
The family of 12-year-old Misbah, who was tortured to death by her employer in the latter’s residence in Lahore’s Iqbal Town some weeks back, have expressed their satisfaction with the investigation and police cooperation in attaining justice for the slain girl. Misbah’s case is one among a rare few where the aggrieved kin of minors brutalized by their employers pursue legal recourse rather than accept a settlement or compensation.
According to the FIR, Misbah’s father Nasrullah, a labourer and resident of Sheikhupura, had sent his daughter to work in Ms. Saira Bano’s home in Nargis Block, Iqbal Town some two months back. During the period, he and his family tried contacting the girl however her employer would often cut the call with an excuse.
On January 27, a neighbor called Nasrullah to pick up his daughter from her employer’s residence as she was not performing her duties. Accompanied by his brother Abdullah and friend Zafar Iqbal, he reached Saira Bano’s residence only to find an unresponsive Misbah sprawled on the floor. The group rushed her to a hospital in Sheikhupura but the minor was pronounced dead on arrival. Her father claimed that her body bore marks of torture.
A case was registered against unidentified persons under section 302 (punishment for intended murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). An autopsy revealed that the deceased had sustained several bone fractures and deep wounds which were the cause of her demise. During interrogation, Misbah’s employer, Saira Bano, divulged that the girl was often beaten for failing to follow simple instructions. On the day of the incident, the girl had been brutalized with clubs. On Thursday, February 4, Iqbal Town police confirmed the arrest of Saira Bano in connection with the murder.