ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has granted bail to Additional District and Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife Maheen Zafar shortly after indicting them for torturing their 10 year-old maid, Tayyaba.
The court had initially charged Maheen Zafar with torture and the judge with criminal negligence. The court had awarded both of them a punishment of one year, on top of fining each of them Rs.50000 as well.
Following the verdict, however, the judge appealed to the bench for bail for himself and for his wife, which the same bench granted. The court also ruled that the bail would be valid for seven days.
This particular case garnered immense traction on social media, and revolved around Tayyaba who was recovered from the Judge Khurram’s house following a complaint neighbours registered with the police on the 29th of December, 2016.
Following the revelation, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed with the police against the judge and his wife, and a subsequent inquiry by the police held the judge’s wife guilty of torture, while Judge Khurram was accused of indirect criminal negligence.
In January 2017, Tayyaba’s parents reached a compromise with the accused, but Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar took suo moto notice of the compromise, and ordered that the IHC proceed with a trial against the accused.
