Rizwana narrates story of torture by civil judge’s wife to Islamabad police

Rizwana, 14, the victim of violence by a civil judge’s wife, narrated her story to Islamabad police, stating that Somia Asim used to torture her with iron rods and sticks, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

The young housemaid, who was the target of Somia’s everyday scolding, told the police that she kicked and slapped her whenever she got angry, adding that she often held her by the hair and hit her head against the wall.

“And when she did not get peace after doing all this, she would lock me up in a room and would not provide anything to eat or drink for many days,” she maintained.

Rizwana said that whenever the judge went out with the family, she was locked up in the house, adding that she was not allowed to meet her parents.

She maintained that whenever her parents talked to her, Somia would threaten her not to tell her parents about the torture and injuries. “I was neither taken to a doctor nor given ointment despite being in severe pain,” she added.

It is to be noted here that Civil Judge Asim Hafeez had skipped the appearance before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in the Rizwana torture case following which he was made Officer on Special Duty (OSD) on the order of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

On the other hand, the hospital sources said that the skin drafting of Rizwana had been completed, and a special dressing on her face was being done.

A flap surgery will be performed on Rizwana’s head. This type of surgery is performed on large wounds.

A board of surgeons will sit on Monday to decide whether to perform plastic surgery on Rizwana’s head or not. The final decision will be taken after the medical board meeting.

“Rizwana’s condition has improved considerably. She has been eating three meals of home-cooked food a day,” Medical Board Head Prof Jodat Saleem said.

 

Reporters: Farzana Siddique and Azmat Awan