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RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 5487

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAHORE 000025 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF KWMN PK
SUBJECT: ACCUSATIONS OF TORTURE IN DEATH OF ADOLESCENT MAID IN 
LAHORE 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  The death of 12-year old girl, allegedly at 
the hands of her employers, offers a glimpse into the world of 
child labor in Pakistan.  Shazia Masih, who died on January 22, 
worked for seven months as a servant in the home of a 
Lahore attorney.  The attorney, his wife, son, and sister-in-law 
have been charged with murder, along with the broker who 
introduced Masih to the attorney.  Lahore Cantonment Court 
granted the attorney and the broker 14-days judicial remand, 
commitment of the accused to judicial custody after a bail 
application has been denied, on February 10.  On January 25 the 
Lahore Sessions Court released the attorney's family members on 
bail.  Minority rights and women's rights organizations have 
demonstrated against the young maid's treatment, and local bar 
associations have counter-demonstrated on behalf of their 
accused member.  End Summary. 
 
- - - 
Child Servants in Pakistan 
- - - 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Shazia Masih began working for Lahore High Court 
Advocate Chaudhry Mohammad Naeem and his family in July 2009. 
According to press reports, she received 1,000 Pakistani Rupees 
(USD 12) per month for her services as a maid.  According to 
media statements by Naeem's wife, Masih was working to pay off a 
debt owed by her mother to Naeem.  Some media reports have 
claimed that a broker named Amanat Ali trafficked or sold Masih 
to Naeem, but Post has been unable to verify this. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Note:  It is common practice in Pakistan for children 
to work as domestic servants.  Over 300,000 children work as 
domestic laborers, according to the International Labor 
Organization.  Wealthy and middle-class families often hire an 
entire family to work as servants in their home, including 
school-age children.  Masih and her family are Christians, a 
tiny and often abused minority in Pakistan.  Many Pakistani 
Christians were members of the lowest castes of Hinduism prior 
to their ancestral conversion to Christianity, and the stigma 
sticks.  In October 2009 Post hosted an Eid lunch for students 
of school run by a non-profit organization.  The students were 
all children of domestic servants with a monthly family income 
of 2,000 - 5,000 Pakistani Rupees (USD 24 - 60).  One 
second-grader, when asked what she liked to do for fun after 
school, frowned slightly then replied "nothing," because she 
went to work with her mother every day after school.  End Note. 
 
- - - 
Allegation of Torture Leading to Death 
- - - 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  On January 21, Naeem took an unconscious Shazia Masih 
to the emergency room of Jinnah Hospital in Lahore, according to 
Katherine Karamat, Program Officer for Centre for Legal Aid, 
Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS).  Medical reports from the 
emergency room stated that she was not responsive, and that 
Naeem reported she had fallen down the stairs three days 
earlier.  After dropping Masih at the emergency room, Naeem went 
to her parent's home, asked them to come with him, and dropped 
them by the hospital.  There they learned of their daughter's 
condition, according to Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra, Chairman, Human 
Liberation Commission of Pakistan.  Shazia Masih was pronounced 
dead on January 22. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The preliminary medical examiner's autopsy report 
listed 18 injuries including bruised swelling on forehead and 
cheeks caused by "blunt means," and various cuts on feet caused 
by a "sharp edged weapon."  The death certificate, provided to 
Poloff on February 12 by Sahotra, listed the cause of death as 
cardiopulmonary arrest.  CLAAS and other human rights 
organizations believe Masih was tortured to death by Naeem 
and/or his family.  G.A. Khan Tariq, lawyer for Naeem, told the 
media Masih had an epileptic fit on January 21 and Naeem took 
her to the hospital, where she died.  Punjab Chief Minister 
Shahbaz Sharif has requested an inquiry into the incident. 
Senior Minister in the Punjab Provincial Cabinet Raja Riaz, on 
behalf of President Asif Zardari, pledged 500,000 Pakistani 
Rupees (5,900 USD) to the family. 
 
- - - 
Ongoing Proceedings against the Accused 
 
LAHORE 00000025  002 OF 002 
 
 
- - - 
 
¶6.  (SBU) January 22, police filed a First Incident Report (FIR) 
charging Naeem, his wife, son, sister-in-law and broker with 
premeditated murder under section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code, 
according to CLAAS.  Police arrested Naaem and Ali on January 
¶25.  The Lahore Sessions Court released Naeem's family on 
pre-arrest bail.  Naeem and Ali appeared before Lahore 
Cantonment Court on January 26, February 4 and February 9.  On 
February 9, the court ordered 14 days of "judicial remand," 
which extends their pre-trial detention to allow police time to 
finish their investigation.  Both men are currently being held 
in Camp Jail, Lahore.  A bail hearing for Naeem and Ali is 
scheduled for February 13. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Naeem is a former president of the Lahore District Bar 
Association.  Punjab's thirty-five district bar associations are 
stronger in numbers than the Lahore High Court Bar Association, 
as they contain members of lower courts and are comprised mainly 
of younger lawyers.  Members of the district bar associations 
have demonstrated at each of Naeem's hearings to date, clashing 
with police, journalists, and human rights activists.  CLAAS's 
Karamat has expressed concern that pressure from the lawyers 
could result in the court dismissing the charges against Naeem. 
 
- - - 
Comment:  Remarkable Possibility of Justice for the Vulnerable 
- - - 
 
¶8.  (SBU)  From a local perspective, what makes the case unique 
is not that a child was harmed by an employer, it is that the 
employer is facing consequences for harm done to a child while 
in his employ.  Lahore's criminal justice authorities have thus 
far resisted pressure to release Naeem, which is promising. 
Given the vast social gap between a wealthy attorney and the 
girl-child of Christian servants, even this much official 
attention to her death is remarkable.  The district bar 
associations' approach to this case is further evidence that the 
lawyers' movements are not necessarily liberal or pro-democracy; 
self-interest is also a driving factor.  Lawyers and human 
rights activists will continue to clash outside the courtroom. 
Post will monitor and report as the case progresses. 
CONROY