A tragic case unfolds in northeast Pakistan as a 13-year-old domestic worker, known only as Iqra, met a horrific end following a minor theft. Iqra was employed by a local couple, Rashid Shafiq and his wife Sana, and according to early police reports, the incident began when she allegedly stole some chocolate. What followed was unthinkable torture that ultimately led to her death on February 12.
Authorities later arrested both Rashid and Sana on suspicion of murder, along with a Quran teacher employed by the family. The teacher, who reportedly escorted Iqra to a hospital, left shortly after falsely informing medical staff that her father was dead and her mother absent from her life. It remains unclear whether the teacher truly believed this misinformation.
Iqra’s father, 45-year-old farmer Sana Ullah, revealed that his daughter had been working for the Shafiq family as a means to help ease his debts, earning roughly $28 a month. “I felt completely shattered inside when she died,” he shared with reporters. He recounted that police had called him on the day of her hospitalization; when he arrived, Iqra was already unconscious and succumbed to her injuries within minutes. Preliminary evidence, including graphic photos and videos, indicated that Iqra had suffered multiple fractures in her limbs and a severe head injury, suggesting a prolonged pattern of abuse.
Human rights activist Shehr Bano expressed her anguish on social media, questioning how such brutality could be inflicted on a child for a trivial act. Her post, accompanied by distressing images of Iqra’s injuries and the hashtag #JusticeforIqra, resonated deeply with the public.
Iqra’s father continues to demand justice, though he notes that convictions in cases like these are rare. An autopsy is still pending, which will further detail the extent of Iqra’s injuries.
