Slain girl's mother says Pir Asad Shah Jeelani is "innocent" in Fatima murder case

The mother of Fatima, a minor girl who was allegedly tortured to death by an influential Pir in Sindh's Ranipur town, has submitted an affidavit in the district and sessions court.

In the affidavit, she stated that her daughter's death was due to "natural causes" and that the arrested persons were "innocent".

The affidavit was presented during the first hearing of the case in the District and Sessions Court, which was transferred from the Anti-Terrorism Court )ATC).

The mother also claimed that a case was registered with her signature without her consent, and she has no objection if the court convicts Pir Asad Shah Jeelani, Pir Fayyaz Shah, and Hina Shah.

However, the District and Sessions Judge adjourned the hearing of the case for an indefinite period and recommended that it be conducted in the ATC.

The judge has also written a letter to the Sindh High Court Sukkur Bench regarding the case.

The distressing incident came to light in August last year after video clips showing torture marks on the minor girl's body went viral on social media.

In the video, the seriously injured girl was seen struggling to sit up on her bed but soon collapsed.

Later, Ranipur notable Pir Asad Shah Jeelani and others were arrested for allegedly torturing their 10-year-old maid to death.

A special media board was formed to ascertain the cause of the minor's death, which concluded that the girl was subjected to severe torture and suspected sexual abuse.

The post-mortem report revealed “decomposition with bluish discoloration on right side of face and forehead and greenish mottled discoloration over the left side of face, neck and shoulder”.

The preliminary autopsy report also stated that the abdomen of the deceased girl was distended.