Tayyaba torture case: Former judge, wife challenge verdict in IHC

ISLAMABAD: Tayyaba case convicts former additional session judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan and spouse challenged the verdict in high court on Friday.

In the verdict announced on Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court declared one year imprisonment, including a surety bond of Rs.50,000 each against torture of ten-year-old child maid identified as Tayyaba.

The couple has filed a petition in the high court seeking formation of a special division bench, adding that a liable hearing should be launched in the case.

The trial conducted under the perusal of tribunal Justice Aamer Farooq was drafted on March 27, which was later adjourned for a hearing on April 17.

Juvenile housemaid Tayyaba was tortured by the judge and his wife in December 2016. The medical examination of the maid carried out that the victim had been burnt and tortured.

Tayyaba's torture case was unearthed through social media and later the chief justice took suo moto notice. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, ADSJ Raja Khurram Ali Khan reached an agreement with the aggrieved family who pardoned him and his wife.

The hearing on January 11 disclosed that the father of young maid was threatened by the opposer’s lawyer that if he did not sign the document to pardon the judge, then his daughter Tayyaba would not be given to him.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took a suo motu notice of the compromise agreement and ordered the IHC to conduct a trial of the case. The IHC had suspended the judge and made him an officer on special duty (OSD).