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Islamabad [Pakistan]October 5 (ANI): Prison employees in the Attock district of Pakistan’s Punjab province have been accused of raping and harassing women visiting prisoners, media reports have said, citing a report by the Provincial Intelligence Centre (PIC).
The report further revealed that drug use is widespread at Atok prison due to the presence of a powerful mafia on its premises. On September 30, PIC field staff submitted a report to Prison Superintendent Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig after investigating district prison affairs.
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Allegations by a prison staff member that some staff members were involved in sexually harassing and raping women visiting inmates were among the most horrific, according to the report, Dawn.
It added: “This is very disturbing and could lead to the scandal having a bad effect on the Punjab government.”
Intelligence officers have urged an investigation by a high-power committee headed by an “integrity and honest” officer, who is an additional secretary. The report revealed details, noting that prison staff should be punished if they were found guilty of violating the prison manual or involving “torture, corruption, extortion and sexual harassment.”
It called for the protection of the dignity and privacy of female prison visitors, saying prison authorities had a duty to protect these women. “Furthermore, all detainees must be protected from sexual abuse and harassment,” the report said.
“A girl who went to the prison to see one of the inmates offered drugs to the prisoners. A pack of charas worth Rs 500 outside was sold for Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 inside the prison,” the report said.
“The powerful drug dealer mafia has deep roots in prisons with the support of the prison administration and makes unrestricted profits by selling contraband. They also pay the prison administration their fair share,” it added.
Violence against women has become an issue that cannot be ignored in Pakistan as it has become a social norm in the family. The country is considered the sixth most dangerous country for women to live in.
Analysts have observed that beating women or perpetrating domestic violence is more common in Pakistani households where men see it as a tool to control women.
Rights activists say a woman in Pakistani society faces multiple threats because of her gender. Writing for Dunyanews, Mehmil Khalid was seen openly harassed, raped or killed by those who committed such crimes without fear of punishment and indictment.
Pakistan had successfully passed laws to control violence against women. The lack of enforcement of these laws, however, not only contributes to the lingering of cases, but also justifies men’s continued indifference, abuse of women, and violation of the law.
According to data from the country’s Demographic and Health Survey (2017-2018) cited by the Pakistan Ministry of Human Rights, about 28 percent of women aged 15 to 29 have experienced physical violence.
It has been observed that certain cases registered and detected by the police contain inaccurate figures, making it impossible to determine the exact number of violent crimes committed against women in Pakistan.
Human Rights Watch cited allegations of widespread violations of women’s and children’s rights in Pakistan in its 2022 annual world report, ranking the country 167 out of 170 countries on the Global Women, Peace and Security Index. “Violence against women and girls, including rape, murder, acid attacks, domestic violence and forced marriages, is widespread across Pakistan. Human rights defenders estimate that around 1,000 women are killed each year in so-called honour killings,” Human Rights Watch reported. (ANI)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from the Syndicated News feed, the body of the content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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