Mahira Khan condemns child labour after teenage maid’s torture

Gulf Today Report

Pakistan’s superstar Mahira Khan has voiced her concern for all the victims of child labour, calling this practice illegal, wrong and unethical.

In a video message shared by Pakistani actress Nadia Jamil, who was the first to raise her voice in a minor housemaid’s torture case, Mahira said, "Child labour is illegal, wrong and unethical.  For God’s sake for the future of these kids and for Pakistan, try your best to stop this curse."

She also appealed to others to stop encouraging child labour and raise their voice against the abuse of child labourers.

"My appeal is for all of us to speak out, for lawmakers to provide enough so these children don’t have to go and work, and of course, most importantly, when there are cases like Rizwana, there MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY!" Khan urged.

Mahira said, "The strange thing is that incidents like Rizwana usually happen in those houses that are very educated and powerful. Why? Maybe because they know they will get bail easily, there’s no accountability for them.

“So this appeal of mine is to people like me and you, to people who are in positions of power, who have platforms, who have voices, who are lucky enough that we don’t have to send our children to beg or to work in someone's house who is unknown to us, where God forbid they will be tortured or abused.”

She raised her voice after the brutal torture of a minor girl, Rizwana, who worked as a maid in Islamabad in the house of Somia Asim, the wife of a civil judge.

The wife of the judge allegedly tortured her after blaming her for stealing gold jewellery.

According to local media, the civil judge’s wife was taken into custody on August 7 and sent to jail on judicial remand for 14 days.