The poor treatment of those who help around the house is an issue that has been highlighted time and again.

Every once in a while, we come across a post or a story that talks about the mistreatment of domestic help. Sometimes, we’ll hear about a maid who is told to sit separately at a restaurant. At other times, we’ll hear about something much more horrid. Our empathy towards those who help around our houses, unfortunately, seems to be minimal in such cases.

One such case was highlighted recently, where a maid in her early teens was made to sit in the trunk of the car, spotted a few miles before Packages Mall.

The car apparently had enough space for her to be seated inside. Moreover, the young girl had to balance the trunk with her hand in order to let air in. When the guard at the checkpoint saw her, he allegedly laughed. This caused the young girl to shut the top of the trunk completely out of embarrassment. Once pictures of the car circulated, people tracked down the number plate.

The post went viral within the span of a few hours.

The following pictures clearly show the young girl seated in the trunk…

…balancing the top with her hand.

Pictures of the car were also circulated. 

Understandably, people were extremely pissed off when they heard about the incident. Pakistanis took to social media to spread the post like wildfire.

Some narrated the incident for their followers on Twitter…

A few miles before entering the Packages Mall we encountered this car (LEB- 5313, owned by Mr. Yasir Ahmed) who had apparently made his Maid (13-14 yrs old girl) sit in the car’s trunk. As visible in the pictures, she was balancing it with her hand, for letting the air in. (Cont) pic.twitter.com/YQlbPAQbz8

— Saad (@amjadsaad97) November 27, 2017

but as they approached the check point, the guard saw her, and (without inquiring the driver as to why the maid was sitting in the boot when there was enough space inside the car), he laughed. That single laugh made her so embarrassed that she closed the boot completely. (Contd)

— Saad (@amjadsaad97) November 27, 2017

…trying to highlight how wealth does not give one the right to embarrass their domestic help. 

The car still didn’t stop and kept on moving. I want to tell the owner, Mr. Yasir, that just because you have all this wealth now doesn’t give you the right to exploit the honor of your servants/maids. Tables can turn at any time and if, God forbid there… (contd)

— Saad (@amjadsaad97) November 27, 2017

Moreover, they talked about how we should try to imagine ourselves, or our loved ones, in such situations…

comes a time on your family, when your own daughter have to work for others to earn a few pennies, I certainly think you wouldn’t want her in your maid’s place. (Contd)

— Saad (@amjadsaad97) November 27, 2017

…so that we may truly empathize with the plight of the less fortunate.

If you, being wealthy enough, to educate yourself and your children, in expensive schools, remain unaware of the basic civic rights then I am sorry there’s nothing that differentiates you and an illiterate person.

— Saad (@amjadsaad97) November 27, 2017

Others took to Twitter to point out how our elite class isn’t as sophisticated as it would like us to believe.

Pakistani elite is easily a majority haraami elite imo

— Mohsin (@Mohsin_Z7) November 27, 2017

Some even lost their cool completely, saying they’d have the girl pulled out. 

Perfectly illustrates what the rich are doing to the poor here. Laanti kuttay. If I'd seen this, I'd have pulled the girl out.

— Wanderlust (@FireUnderFoot) November 27, 2017

The situation is indeed sad, as this Twitter user pointed out.

Laanet whoever kept this living thing "a human" in this situation! Sad

— Naur (@Fzahra17g) November 27, 2017

While a vast majority took the time out to track down the owner of the car, this user pointed out how it would be an exercise in futility.

what ll u do by tracing him? did u forgot a judge and his family were found guilty of child labor, child abuse. did that judge and his wife get punishment?

— Niaz Bhullarنیازبھلر (@BhullarNiaz) November 27, 2017

In a country where such matters are all too common – the exception being that they take place within closed doors – we can only hope that this is the turning point for the subdued wave of accountability. It’s never okay to rob a person off of their dignity and honor in such a way. You do not own the household help. You simply pay them to serve as a source of aid. Let us hope all of us learn to keep that in mind.

What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments below.

Cover image via Facebook