SHANGLA: District police officer, Shangla, Malak Ijaz has deployed two lady head constables, Bibi Zar and Ishrat Begum, as muharrars at the local police stations to serve women complainants in the district.

Talking to this correspondent, Mr Ijaz said that it was the first such step taken by Shangla police to deploy female muharrars at the police stations.

“In our society, women feel hesitation in complaining about their issues and then are scared to clearly state their complaints before male officials. It was a longstanding problem for women of the district, but now they will be able to report their complaints to the women officials,” he said.

The DPO said that the lady officials were qualified and they had completed their courses required for the position. Shangla police have been facing shortage of women police staff, he said and added that in the upcoming recruitment more ladies would be appointed in the police force. He said that he would deploy women officials in all police stations of the district.

Bibi Zar, who belongs to Chitral and has been serving as head constable at Bisham police station, said it was her desire to serve women as the region’s women were suppressed and unable to report their complaints to police due to absence of female staff at the police stations.

“I have been serving here for the last five years and am well aware of the local culture and customs,” she said.

Ishrat Begum, who was deployed at Alpuri police station, said that women mostly came to the police stations with complaints regarding domestic violence. She said that she was determined to help every female complainant coming to the police station.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2019