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Business Recorder
4 days ago
- General
- Business Recorder
NCCIA busts int'l child abuse gang
ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has busted an international child exploitation gang in Muzaffargarh allegedly led by a German citizen, said State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Tuesday. Addressing at a press conference flanked by the Director General (DG) NCCIA Waqar Uddin Syed, the minister said that the gang was involved in the child sexual exploitation aged between 6 to 10 years old. This gang was involved in blackmailing children, especially those hailing from a poor community and uploading explicit videos of minors to the dark web, he said. The minister stated that the gang had set up a state-of-the-art fighting club, targeting young children, from which 10 minors have been rescued so far. Six of these children have already been handed over to the Child Protection Bureau for rehabilitation, he said, adding that the German national was the ringleader of the gang. Chaudhry said that, unfortunately, some parents are also found involved in these inhuman activities. 'In the club, the exploiters have installed modern gadgets and cameras for making videos of children,' he said, adding that NCCIA had conducted five-hour-long operations for busting the gang. He said that NCCIA has arrested two suspects, and three accused are still at large. The DG NCCIA said that the special branch Punjab had informed the agency about a foreign national frequently visiting a village in Muzaffargarh. Upon investigation, it was discovered that children were being filmed in an organised manner, he said, adding that a highly professional setup had been established, complete with modern cameras and lighting systems, to record these videos. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
13-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Child maid tortured to death
A 10-year-old domestic worker, Sonia, was allegedly tortured to death by her employers in Lahore's Hanjarwal area on Saturday. Sonia was working at the residence of Farrukh Bashir and his wife Nosheen, where she reportedly endured weeks of physical abuse. Her mother, Asma Bibi, a resident of Arifwala, had sent her daughter to work in the household three months ago through a relative, Sheikh Fiyaz, for a monthly wage of Rs8,000. A few days ago, Asma received a call from Fiyaz saying Sonia had suffered a minor arm injury. Concerned, she asked another relative, Muhammad Aleem, to check on the child. Aleem visited the employers' home in Ali Block, Ittefaq Town, and witnessed Sonia being violently beaten by Farrukh and Nosheen. When he protested, he was thrown out and threatened. He immediately informed Asma about what he had seen. Despite repeated calls over the next two days, Asima received no response from the employers. Eventually, they informed her that her daughter had died. When Asma arrived at the house with relatives, they found Sonia's lifeless body lying on the floor, bearing visible and severe torture marks. The family alleges that no medical treatment was provided to the child, despite her deteriorating condition. An FIR was registered at Hanjarwal Police Station under Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the mother's complaint. DIG Operations Faisal Kamran ordered the immediate formation of a special investigation team. The couple has since been arrested, and legal proceedings are underway. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow and ordered a full investigation, pledging that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. Chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau, Sarah Ahmed, condemned the incident and assured the family of full legal support. "Violence against children is intolerable. Those responsible deserve no leniency," she said. Notably, legal experts point out that the FIR does not include charges under The Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, 2018, despite clear provisions that categorize employing children as domestic workers under bonded labour and human trafficking. Section 3 of the Act states that anyone who recruits or obtains another person for compelled labor through force, fraud, or coercion is guilty of human trafficking and liable to punishment. Sonia's death is not an isolated case but part of a horrifying pattern of abuse. In February 2025, a 13-year-old domestic worker, Iqra, died in Rawalpindi after being tortured by her employers, who accused her of stealing chocolates. The case went viral, with #JusticeforIqra trending on social media. Iqra, who had been working since she was eight due to her father's debt, was found with multiple fractures and severe head injuries. Similarly, in 2020, eight-year-old Zahra died in Rawalpindi after she was allegedly beaten for letting pet parrots escape. Forensic reports later suggested possible sexual assault. In 2023, a 14-year-old girl named Sana was tortured by her employer in Lahore's Garhi Shahu area using scissors and sticks.
Express Tribune
12-02-2025
- Express Tribune
Chocolate costs child maid her life
RAWALPINDI: A 12-year-old domestic worker, allegedly subjected to severe torture by her employer, succumbed to her injuries in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. Initial police investigations have revealed that the child suffered a deep head injury, with her skull fractured, which ultimately led to her death. The accused, identified as Rashid Qureshi and his wife, who have eight children, allegedly tortured the young girl, Iqra, after their daughter accused her of stealing chocolate. Police sources said Rashid's wife allegedly assaulted Iqra and struck her on the head with a rolling pin used for making bread. Further investigations uncovered that the girl had been tied up and deprived of food and water. The woman who took her to the hospital was later found to be a planted accomplice of the accused couple, the police claimed. During interrogation, it was also discovered that the initial claim that the child's father was deceased and her mother was in 'iddah' (a mourning period) was false. Police have now contacted the girl's father, who is on his way to Rawalpindi. "A case has been registered against Rashid Qureshi, his wife, and others involved in concealing the crime. The charges include murder, torture, and evidence tampering," the police said. Earlier, it was revealed that a 12-year-old domestic worker in the Asghar Mall area within the jurisdiction of Rawalpindi's Banni police station was alleged to have been severely abused by her employers. A woman, who taught the holy Quran to children in homes, discovered the abuse. The child was found to have signs of severe abuse and injuries. Upon receiving the report, Rawalpindi's Chief Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Hamdani took notice, and police arrested the house owner along with his wife and the woman who brought the child to the hospital. An investigation was launched, and a team from the Child Protection Bureau in Rawalpindi also visited the hospital. According to the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) estimates, there are at least 8.5 million domestic workers in Pakistan, the vast majority of whom are women and young girls. CPO Hamdani emphasised that child abuse was absolutely intolerable. He assured that the perpetrators would face severe punishment. Once the medical examination is completed, a case will be filed against those involved in the abuse of the innocent child. Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau, Sarah Ahmad, also took notice of the incident. A team from the Child Protection Bureau, led by District Officer Rao Khalil Ahmed, visited the hospital to gather information about the case. Sarah expressed her deep concern, calling the abuse of the 12-year-old girl a tragic incident. Sarah stated that the employers had subjected the child to abuse for almost 12 days, and there were visible signs of violence on her body. She assured that the Child Protection Bureau would take the child into protective custody and provide all possible support. In 2022, the ILO released a study, which mentioned that in Pakistan, one in every four households employs a child in domestic work, predominantly girls, aged 10 to 14 years. As per Unicef, about 3.3 million Pakistani children are trapped in child labour, depriving them of their childhood, health and education, and condemning them to a life of poverty and want.
Express Tribune
11-02-2025
- Express Tribune
'Abused' child maid rescued in Pindi
RAWALPINDI: A 12-year-old domestic worker in the Asghar Mall Scheme area of Rawalpindi's Banni Police Station is alleged to have been severely abused by her employers. Despite the child's condition deteriorating due to the abuse, the employers showed no compassion. A woman, who taught the holy Quran to children in homes, discovered the abuse when she took the child to the hospital for treatment. The child was found to have signs of severe abuse and injuries. Upon receiving the report, Rawalpindi's Chief Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Hamdani immediately took notice, and police arrested the house owner along with his wife and the woman who brought the child to the hospital. An investigation has been launched, and a team from the Child Protection Bureau in Rawalpindi also visited the hospital. According to sources, the 12-year-old girl was transferred to the hospital in an unconscious state from Asghar Mall Scheme. Doctors identified signs of abuse and injuries on her body, and they informed the police. CPO Hamdani took immediate action, directing the police to investigate the woman who had brought the child to the hospital. The woman revealed that she teaches the Quran to children and stated that the child had been working at the home of Mian Rashid. Upon seeing her condition, she brought the child to the hospital. Following this revelation, the police took swift action, detaining the husband and wife involved in the alleged abuse. Investigations are ongoing, and preliminary inquiries suggest the abuse occurred a few days ago. The child's condition remains critical, and treatment is ongoing. Police reported that the child's father passed away about a month ago, and her mother is currently in mourning. CPO Hamdani emphasised that child abuse is absolutely intolerable under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He stated that a zero-tolerance policy is in place for such crimes and assured that the perpetrators would face severe punishment. Once the medical examination is completed, a case will be filed against those involved in the abuse of the innocent child. Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau, Sarah Ahmad, also took notice of the abuse incident involving the young domestic worker, Iqra. A team from the Child Protection Bureau, led by District Officer Rao Khalil Ahmed, visited the hospital to gather information about the case. Sarah expressed her deep concern, calling the abuse of the 12-year-old girl a tragic incident. She confirmed that the child is currently receiving treatment at Holy Family Hospital. Sarah stated that the employers had subjected the child to abuse for almost 12 days, and there are visible signs of violence on her body. She assured that the Child Protection Bureau would take the child into protective custody and provide all possible support.
