A Pakistani couple was arrested in Rawalpindi city for allegedly causing the death of a 13-year-old girl, who worked as a domestic help, over suspicion of stealing chocolates.
The girl, who was identified in media reports as Irqa, died at a hospital last Wednesday.
She was reportedly suffering from multiple injuries.
In the preliminary investigation, police found that she was tortured.
The incident has triggered massive protests with the hashtag #JusticeforIqra trending online.
The hashtag has garnered tens and thousands of views so far.
The arrested couple was identified as Rashid Shafiq and Sana.
Irqa’s father said he felt shattered after he came to know about his daughter’s death.
“I felt completely shattered inside when she died,” Iqra’s father, Sana Ullah, told the BBC.
He said he saw her in an unconscious state when he visited the hospital after receiving a call from the police.
He said she died minutes after he visited the hospital.
Sana Ullah said he sent his daughter to work as a maid when she was eight years old.
He said his debt forced him to take such a stance.
According to reports, the girl went to the house of the couple two years ago.
She was reportedly receiving USD 28 per month from them.
An autopsy is being conducted to assess the full extent of her injuries, and the police has told the BBC that they were still awaiting the final medical report.
Prominent activist reacts
Activist Shehr Bano reacted to the incident and wrote on X: “Raise your voice. My heart cries tears of blood. How many Iqras, how many Fatimas are subjected to violence in their homes every day for a trivial job of a few thousand.”
“How has this state become so insensitive? How long will the poor continue to lower their daughters into graves in this way and the rich continue to survive on money?” he said.
One X user wrote in the comment section: “I’m disgusted and ashamed of Pakistan.”
About 3.3 million of Pakistani children are trapped in child labour, UNICEF said.
