Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Suspended Additional District and Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife Maheen Zafar have challenged the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) verdict on Friday that found the couple to be guilty of torturing their minor maid, Tayyaba.

The accused have pleaded the IHC to set up a divisional bench today that will hear their appeal.

The IHC, on the 17^th of April, indicted Khurram and his wife under Section 328-A (cruelty to a child), and held that both Khurram and his wife Maheen would serve a year each in prison. The two of them were also fined Rs 50,000 each.

Following the verdict, the accused couple had filed a plea for bail which has been granted for seven days.

Tayyaba, a 10 year old working at the judge’s house was rescued on the 29^th of December 2016, when neighbours  filed a complaint of torture with the police.

The case garnered much traction on social media as people called for retribution against the accused.

On the 3^rd of January 2017, Tayyaba’s parents reached a compromise with the accused, and forgave them.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, however, took suo moto notice of the compromise and ordered the IHC to undertake proceedings, which eventually resulted in the verdict against the judge and his wife.