LHC calls DC, Baitul Maal director in Kashana case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought personal appearance of the Lahore deputy commissioner and Baitul Maal director on a petition seeking judicial inquiry into allegations of former superintendent of state-run Kashana Lahore that the facility is being used to supply underage orphan girls to powerful ministers of the Punjab government.

Last week, Afshan Latif, now suspended superintendent of Kashana, in a series of videos posted on the social media, had made the startling claim and accused the Punjab government of persecuting her for bringing the matter to light.

Majeedul Haq, a social worker, has petitioned the LHC, contending that it is the constitutional responsibility of the state to provide protection to every citizen. He said inhuman treatment being meted out to the underage girls at the state-run facility is a sheer violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. He said the state should protect the orphan girls.

He pleaded with the court that a judicial inquiry should be held into allegations of Afshan Latif and those responsible should be brought to book. Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan heard the preliminary arguments and sought personal appearance of the Lahore DC and the Baitul Maal director by December 12. Afshan Latif was present in the courtroom along with her lawyer and the judge asked them to come up on next hearing to extend arguments.

Later, while talking to the media, Afshan Latif said: "I had knocked at every door for justice but when no one heard me, I turned to the social media because this is a matter of Darul Aman girls’ future and I have put all the matter before all and I hope justice will be given by the court."

It was not her problem, but the problem of orphan girls. “No one listened to me in the department and my complaint lodged with the PM Portal was also not heard,” she said. The girls are misused in the name of providing bread and clothes to them,” she had said.

Former provincial minister of Social Welfare Ajmal Cheema has said the allegations against the ministers are baseless. She had alleged that even after her appointment, the illegal practices continued at the centre. She had filed a complaint with her department against Director-General of Kashana Afshan Kiran Imtiaz. The complaint stated that Imtiaz was pressuring Latif to marry underage girls to high-ranking officials.