PESHAWAR: A woman warden of the Central Jail Peshawar on Thursday accused the prison superintendent and his son of subjecting her to harassment and sexual advances.

Shahzadi Rabia told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that she was transferred to Charsadda, Mardan, Swat and other places during the five years service for refusing to give in to the ‘demands’ of her boss.

She said the boss had even threatened her with ‘dire consequences.’

“I was always asked by my boss to yield to his desires to get the transfer orders canceled,” she said.

The warden said she was a married woman and could end her life by self-immolation outside the Chief Minister’s House.

She said the jail superintendent had ‘mentally tortured’ her and issued threats after learning about her intention to address a news conference against him.

“Before I came here for the news conference, I received many threats and even the prison superintendent mentally tortured me. However, I decided not to succumb to such pressure tactics for the protection of my honour,” she said.

The warden said other women of the prison were also subjected to sexual advances by bosses but they opted to keep silent for job security.

She alleged the women prisoners, who had good rapport with the jail superintendent, got cellphones and other facilities against the law.

The warden appealed to the Peshawar High Court chief justice, provincial chief minister, police chief and PTI chief Imran Khan to step in and ensure dispensation of justice to her.

Dawn contacted the jail superintendent for version on the charge but a member of his staff said the boss was taking a rest.

Published in Dawn, July 254th, 2014