Rizwana torture case: Court orders to arrest civil judge’s wife

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court on Monday ordered to arrest the wife of the civil judge who brutally tortured her domestic maid Rizwana.

The court rejected the application seeking the extension in pre-arrest bail of the suspect Soumya Asim Hafeez and ordered her immediate arrest.

The minor girl’s parents also appeared in court. Rizwana’s mother was overwhelmed in the courtroom. The prosecutor urged the court to arrest the suspect as the medical record of the victim was available.

The prosecutor said the victim has multiple injuries including ribs as was tortured on multiple occasions. He said the doctor has to examine and tell how many injuries are present.

He said the minor girl Rizwana is 13 to 14 years old. According to the law, employing a minor is a crime and the civil judge and his wife should know the law, he argued.

“On what basis is Soumya Asim seeking extension of his bail? Should a woman commit any crime and be granted bail?” the lawyer said.

The plaintiff lawyer said the accused Soumya Asim is ready to give all the evidence to the police. He said the gardener saw that the girl eating soil in the garden which caused an allergy and was given medication.

“If the aim was to kill the girl, why was the girl found with Soumya Asim at the bus stand?” he argued. He added that Soumya Asim’s life has been threatened and she has been made a criminal on the media.

“Did the investigating officer allow the parents of the girl to be involved in the investigation? Why are the girl’s parents not being investigated?” he asked.

The judge said the arguments were not sufficient for the granting bail. The lawyer replied the first five lines of the case are based on lies and he was willing to testify before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

The judge replied that the case cannot be adjourned until the JIT completes investigation. The lawyer urged to adjourn hearing until the witnesses were presented.

He said a fabricated story has been made against Soumya Asim. He said the accused appeared before the JIT and expressed her innocence.