ISLAMABAD: The court of local judicial magistrate on Thursday turned down the bail plea Soumia Asim, the wife of civil judge, in the minor housemaid Rizwana torture case.
Judicial magistrate Shaista Kundi heard the plea and announced the verdict after hearing counsels from both sides.
Defence counsel Qazi Dastagir claimed in the court that the girl was not employed. “If she was not servant, why she was kept at the home,” judge questioned. “She was brought for teaching and welfare,” defence counsel claimed. “If she was admitted at school,” judge asked. “She is 16 years of age thus not admitted to school,” the lawyer replied. “A Quran teacher and a tutor were teaching her at home,” defence lawyer said.
“The judge’s family was being blackmailed for money,” the lawyer claimed, adding that a woman Zunaira, from the US was also sending money for the girl.
Prosecutor told the court that the girl’s both arms and legs were injured, and a tooth was broken. Her ribs were broken and there are injuries on hind side of the girl’s head,” the lawyer said.
“The petitioner didn’t call the police but the 15 received phone call from Sargodha hospital,” the prosecutor further said.
“Rizwana have 17 wounds on her body, owing to these injuries the girl was referred from Sargodha to Lahore,” the lawyer said. “According to x-rays, her arms’ bones were fractured,” he further said.
DPO Sargodha had written a letter to Islamabad Police as the crime location was in Islamabad, government lawyer said. “There are some photos on record that show how the child was subjected to torture,” the counsel said.
“The girl was carried in arms to the bus. The bus driver in his statement said that the child was carried in arms in bus,” prosecutor said.
“They said the girl was brought to the home to teach her, but tutor has stated, he didn’t teach Rizwana,” Prosecutor Waqas said while opposing bail petition of accused Soumia Asim. “There is substantial evidence on record against the accused,” he added.
