A 13-year-old girl, Samia, was allegedly tortured to death by her employers in Rahim Yar Khan’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. Police have arrested a man, Shahram Bilal, and his wife, who are suspected of inflicting fatal violence on the young domestic worker.
Samia, a resident of Kotla Pathan, had been employed at the couple’s home for the past three years. Authorities revealed that she died due to severe physical abuse. In an attempt to cover up the crime, her employers informed her mother of her “sudden death” and handed over the body late at night, wrapped in a burial shroud. However, upon receiving the body, the grieving mother discovered visible torture marks and immediately alerted the police.
District Police Officer (DPO) Irfan Samo confirmed that a swift raid was conducted, leading to the arrest of the accused couple, who were trying to flee. A post-mortem examination revealed extensive signs of violence across Samia’s body, confirming the allegations of brutal torture.
This case has sparked outrage and renewed calls for stronger protections for child domestic workers in Pakistan, where underage laborers often face exploitation and abuse. The incident follows a disturbing pattern of violence against young domestic helpers.
Last year, a 12-year-old girl, Ayesha, was allegedly beaten to death by her employers in Sargodha. Similarly, in 2023, a 14-year-old domestic worker, Rizwana, was brutally tortured by the wife of a civil judge in another high-profile case.
Police investigations are ongoing, and DPO Samo has assured that the case will be pursued on merit, with the perpetrators facing justice. The tragic death of Samia underscores the urgent need for legal and social reforms to protect vulnerable children forced into labor due to economic hardships.
