Lahore police has decided to deploy women police officers 24/7 at all 84 police stations across the city of Lahore. The step is taken to ensure women can seek police assistance and legal support at any time of the day or night.
According to Lahore police, the initiative is designed to provide women with a safer and more comfortable environment for registering complaints and seeking help. Women officers will remain available at police stations 24 hours a day to assist complainants and respond to cases involving women.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran said the permanent presence of women police officers would ensure that women do not face difficulties when approaching police stations at night.
He added that complaints involving domestic violence, harassment and other problems affecting women would receive an immediate response.
The decision comes following two recent incidents involving women and girls at Lahore police stations.
Previously, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Lahore police was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman with a mental health condition at Ghaziabad police station.
Another such alarming incident occurred on August 4, when two underage girls died while in police custody in Lahore. The circumstances surrounding their deaths still remain unclear. However, the two girls had been suspected of stealing a small amount of cash and gold jewellery from a house. They were brought to Township police station after a local resident accused them of theft.
During a crime-control meeting attended by officers from the City Division, DIG Operations Faisal Kamran directed police officials to ensure that women were not kept at police stations after sunset.
Lahore police will now ensure that trained women officers themselves remain available around the clock.
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