Lahore: A member of an influential group of saints in Pakistan was arrested for allegedly torturing and killing his 10-year-old domestic help.
Asad Shah Jeelani, the accused, is a Pir (Muslim saint or holy man) of Ranipur in Pakistan’s Sindh province.
Jeelani’s domestic help Fatima Furiro was found dead at his haveli in Ranipur, reported The News.
Fatima’s family are followers of the Pir of Ranipur, and sent Fatima to work at Asad’s house.
Video clips of Fatima’s body, with signs of torture, went viral on social media. One of the videos showed the minor girl in a severely injured state, struggling to sit up on her bed and then collapsing.
“My daughter was subjected to the worst form of torture for many days by the Pirs of Ranipur and died due to multiple injuries,” Fatima’s mother Shabana was quoted as saying by Geo News.
Police registered a case against Jeelani based on the mother’s complaint, and arrested him.
According to a senior police official, the parents didn’t initially disclose what had happened and buried their daughter on August 15. The father had said the girl was taken to a local hospital by the Pir or his staff, where doctors said she was suffering from gastroenteritis, Dawn reported. Once she was discharged, the girl passed away at home, it was said.
But when the videos emerged, police swung into action and took Jeelani into custody.
