Punjab sees horrifying rise in child maid abuse cases; two murdered in recent days

LAHORE: A horrifying pattern of violence against underage domestic workers has emerged in Punjab, with at least three girls — all aged 10 to 12 — brutally killed by their employers in the span of a few weeks, sparking public outrage and calls for urgent action.

The most recent case involves 10-year-old Sonia, a resident of village Maghar in Arifwala, who was allegedly tortured to death by her employers in Lahore.

According to her grieving parents, Sonia was beaten with a club by the couple for allegedly refusing to work.

Her body bore signs of brutal abuse — with her teeth, an arm and a leg reportedly broken.

The child was left in the courtyard of the house after succumbing to her injuries while the couple fled.

Sonia had been placed in domestic employment five months earlier by a relative in Lahore for a monthly salary of Rs8,000.

Her parents said they were repeatedly denied the chance to speak to her in the days leading up to her death.

The police in Lahore’s Hanjarwal area have since arrested the couple and registered a case.

Sonia’s family has demanded exemplary punishment for the killers.

*10-year-old child maid killed in Jhang*

In another gruesome case, a 10-year-old domestic worker in Jhang was beaten to death by a landlord and her body dumped in a canal.

According to police, an abduction case had initially been filed on March 14 at the Varyam police station.

The suspect, taken into custody on April 9, confessed during interrogation to killing the child over a minor household issue and later disposing of her body.

Police are still searching for the girl’s remains, and the suspect’s mother and brother have also been arrested for their alleged involvement.

Child maid murdered for eating chocolate

Earlier this year in February, 12-year-old Iqra, a domestic worker in Rawalpindi, was killed by her employers for eating a chocolate without permission.

Employed for Rs8,000 per month, Iqra was reportedly tortured with an iron rod, sustaining multiple fractures.

Her employers, a husband and wife, allegedly dumped her in a near-dead state outside Holy Family Hospital, where she later died.

Oghi police bust child abuse network, 463 videos recovered 

The couple falsely claimed she was an orphan upon arrest.