Court rejects bail
ISLAMABAD: An additional district and sessions court rejected the bail plea of Somia Asim on Thursday. Somia, the wife of judge Asim Hafeez, is the main suspect in the house-maid torture case.
The distressing incident involving the brutal treatment of the minor maid Rizwana came to light last month. Parents of Rizwana transferred her to a hospital in Lahore with severe injuries. They accused the judge’s wife of subjecting Rizwana to severe torture.
Rizwana, minor maid, a victim of torture is lying in a hospital. Islamabad court rejects bail of the prime suspect Somia Asim.
During today’s proceeding, Somia appeared before Judge Shaista Kundi’s court. Her lawyer, Qazi Dastgir, informed the court that the FIR did not mention the date of the incident. Dastgir stated, “My client handed the girl over to her mother, as shown in CCTV footage. There are videos showing the girl sitting on a bench at a bus station and lying down in good health.”
He further argued that a fabricated story had been concocted against Somia. Dastgir questioned, “If the wounds were caused by bugs at home, then how did they disappear at the bus station?”
At the judge’s request, the video from the bus station was played in the courtroom. The judge asked the girl’s mother to provide an account of what had occurred at the bus station. In response, the mother explained that the judge’s wife had complained that Rizwana was not working properly. She asked her to take her back.
“When I asked Rizwana why she wasn’t working, she didn’t respond,” the mother stated.
The lawyer maintained that Somia had not subjected Rizwana to torture and had safely handed her over to her parents.
Judge Kundi emphasized her commitment to documenting all relevant information and ensuring that justice prevails in the court.
Dastagir prayed that Somia Asim did not employ the girl. In response, the judge mentioned that two days prior, Somia had acknowledged paying money to the girl.
After the arguments, the court reserved its verdict, which was later announced.
On August 7, providing relief to the parents of the 14-year-old torture victim, the court ordered arrest of the civil judge’s wife.
