05 February 2004	Thursday	13 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 4: Shaista Almani has refused to accept the job of a constable offered by Sindh Police, it is learnt.

Responding to Dawn from Pano Aqil, Shaista's sister Mehnaz said that Shaista had informed her that she would not accept the job of a constable, because earlier the chief minister Ali Mahar had promised that she would be given the job of an assistant sub-inspector.

She said that Shaista planned to continue with the population planning department's job that was offered to her by Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh a few weeks back.

She said that Shaista, however, had shifted to a quarter provided to her by the police department. But, she said that it was not in good condition.

Ms Mehnaz said that Shaista Almani and her sister Perveen were staying in Karachi while her brother and father had returned to celebrate the Eid with other family members.

Shaista had married Balakh Sher of her free will a few months back but their respective tribes did not like it and they had to run away. They were chased, tracked down and brought back to their village and Balakh Sher divorced her.

Sindh High Court was moved that sent her to the city for medical and psychological treatments. She was brought to the women police station after she was discharged from the hospital. Responding to her appeals for protection and safety, Sindh government offered her job in population welfare department.

Following her appeals for protection, the chief minister announced that she would be employed as an ASI in police. But owing to some procedural difficulties, which restricted direct appointments, she was appointed as a constable - the post she is now refusing to accept.