65-year-old woman murdered by maid: Family regrets not checking servants’ identity

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Rs 6,000 in cash, Rs 69,000 in gold ornaments stolen

By Rana Tanveer

LAHORE: Family members of deceased Gul-e-Nayab (65), who was murdered by her maids on Tuesday, regret that the incident occurred because the whereabouts of the maids were not properly checked and recorded before hiring them.

Nayab was murdered by Zahida (20) and an unidentified accomplice at the victim’s residence in Gulshan-e-Ravi on Tuesday. Khawaja Waqas, the victim’s cousin, told Daily Times the maids had been hired by Nayab without checking their background after the previous maids quit the job. He said Zahida seemed to be well-mannered and wanted work so she could support her family.

However, when asked to show her identity card, Zahida said she would bring it the next day as she did not carry it. Later that day, she was permitted to spend the night at Nayab’s place while her unknown accomplice was told to go and bring the identity card. The next morning, all family members went out to attend to their jobs, leaving behind Zahida and her two-year-old granddaughter. At about 9am, Zahida’s accomplice reached the house and brought chains and locks with her instead of brining the identity card. Waqas said the maids used some intoxicating spray to make the two-year-old girl unconscious and then locked Nayab in the bathroom from where her body was recovered. He said the maids had stolen valuables and cash by breaking the locks of cupboards, adding that he was unaware of the exact amount of valuables lost during the robbery. Mirza Baig, a neighbour of the deceased, said Nayab showed resistance as there were bruises on her neck and she was tortured before being murdered. The deceased was buried at the Miani Sahib graveyard.

Locals of the area also reprimanded the bereaved family for putting all affairs of the house in the hands of strangers. Umar Farooq, son of the deceased, told Daily Times that blind confidence in strangers had caused him the life of his mother. He admitted his mistake in not establishing the background of the maids before hiring them.

Gulshan-e-Ravi Federation President Sheikh Sohail Ahmed told Daily Times the incident was a result of carelessness on part of the family. He said clear instructions had been issued to all residents not to hire any servant without scrutiny. He said a security guard was deputed next to the house but the family had not even informed him of the new maids.

Stolen:Gulshan-e-Ravi Police Station House Officer (SHO) Taseer Riaz said he had registered a first information report (FIR) under sections 302, 380 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Umar Farooq. He said the accused had managed to escape with Rs 6,000 in cash and gold ornaments worth Rs 69,000.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg13_1