Shehbaz takes notice of torture on Rizwana, seeks report from Naqvi

Doctors fear for girl’s life as her condition deteriorates

Lahore/Islamabad_Prime Minister , while strictly taking notice of the incident of torture on a teenage domestic worker, sought a report from Punjab chief minister.

The PM directed caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to provide best possible medical treatment to the wounded Rizwana. He said every effort should be made to save the life and restore the health of the minor girl, adding that dispensation of justice should be ensured to the oppressed girl.

Shehbaz said that without considering who was the culprit, justice and rule of law should be ensured, as oppressor and law violators did not deserve any leniency. He asked the police not to succumb to any pressure, and strictly implement the law, as society could not afford such lawlessness and barbarity.

The PM assured the parents of the injured child that justice would be done.

Earlier,

Doctors at the Lahore General Hospital (LGH) described the condition of a teenage maid, who was tortured allegedly by the wife of a judge, as serious and next 48 hours crucial for her life.

Rizwana, 14, has been under treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital since July 24.

LGH Chief Executive Prof Al-fareed Zafar declared the next 48 hours highly crucial for Rizwana, saying a special board treating her fears that she may need the ventilator support.

He said the girl’s mother had suspected that Rizwana had been poisoned by her employer(s) during domestic violence in Islamabad. Her blood sample had been sent for laboratory test after her complaint, Dr Zafar added.

Rizwana, a resident of Sargodha, was shifted to the LGH in critical condition on July 24.

Dr Zafar said an emergency meeting of the board was called when the duty doctors informed him about the deteriorating condition of the girl. According to the board, her wounds were severely infected. Bronchoscopy examination revealed that one of her lungs was infected and the other had blood clots due to which breathing was difficult for her. That’s was why oxygen saturation level in her blood was falling.

He said the girl had an infection in her blood which had spread throughout the body. Her platelets have increased from 12,000 to 24,000 and the haemoglobin is 7 which is dangerously low.

Dr Zafar said Rizwana had been diagnosed with sepsis and she was a suspected Covid patient and her samples had been sent for diagnosis.

It may be recalled that Rizwana was allegedly subjected to brutal torture by the wife of civil judge Asim Hafeez on the allegation of stealing gold jewellery.

Her family said the girl was working as a maid at the civil judge’s house in Islamabad for six months and she was not paid her salary.

Meanwhile, after receiving Rizwana’s medical report, new provisions have been added to the FIR of the case. In the case registered at Islamabad’s Hamak police station, a section regarding attempted murder has also been added, as well as one about breaking bones of most parts of the body. The suspected wife of the civil judge has obtained interim bail from the Lahore High Court till August 1.