While hearing Asim's anticipatory bail plea, Justice Farooq Haider granted her request until August 1 and instructed the police to stop her arrest as well.
According to Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police, a charge was filed earlier this week against the wife of Civil Judge Asim Hafeez for allegedly torturing a 14-year-old girl who worked as a domestic helper.
When the victim was taken to a hospital in Lahore with critical injuries, the horrifying story of the youngster being mercilessly beaten up came to light. The family then accused the judge's wife, Somia, of torturing their child.
On behalf of the girl's father, Manga Khan, the case was filed at Police Station Humak under Sections 506 (committing the crime of criminal intimidation) and 342 (wrongfully detaining a person) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
Asim declared her willingness to assist with the inquiry into the accusations made against her after being taken into custody. In the meanwhile, the victim's medical report found 15 significant injuries across her body, mainly to the head and face.
The preliminary medical assessment said that "she was denied treatment for seven months, which worsened her wounds."
Later, the victim was moved from Sargodha to Lahore for adequate care, but the physicians there were not much more optimistic.
The judge has not been apprehended by the federal capital police for an inquiry. In Lahore and Gujranwala, the police launched raids at potential hiding places in an effort to find the wife, but they were unsuccessful.