LAHORE: Janki Devi Jamiat Singh Maternity Hospital medical superintendent Dr Farrah Hafeez has filed complaints with the provincial Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplaces and the capital city police officer against the alleged harassment of female staff by Qila Gujjar Singh police.

DIG Dr Haidar Ashraf, however, rejected the allegation, saying the police officials were present at the adjacent land only to oversee the construction of the Dolphin Police Headquarters there.

Both police department and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which runs the hospital, have been at odds for the last several days over the ownership of the land, adjacent to the infirmary.

Dr Hafeez wrote in the complaint that police officials were breaching the privacy of female staffers and patients at the facility. She says the officials want to occupy the “hospital-owned land” to force their way into entry/exit points meant for female patients which entails harassment of women.

She told Dawn the women-only hospital was built and being operated according to will of Jamiat Singh who desired operation of the infirmary by female doctors and paramedics for women patients. She said the privacy of staff and patients was not possible in the presence of police.

The DIG denied the allegations, saying police were only at the adjacent land and not in the hospital, so their interference in hospital’s affairs or privacy was out of question.

He also showed documents to prove ownership of the land.

According to documents provided by the DIG, the Board of Revenue wrote to Lahore’s additional collector (revenue) on Octo 9 that the senior member of the Board of Revenue had approved the transfer of 4 kanals, 19 marlas and 216 feet in mauza Ganaja Kalan and another five kanals in mauza Qila Gujjar Singh in the favour of Home Department. The price amounting to Rs10,500 had been deposited with the treasury by the Punjab inspector general.

“You are, therefore, requested to proceed further in accordance with law and transfer the land in favour of the) Home Department for the establishment of Dolphin Squad in Lahore. The sanction is being issued exclusively for the subject of public purpose failing thereof the sanctioned land will be retrieved back to the settlement department”, the letter reads.

The ETPB insists on the ownership of the land, which, according to the law, cannot be sold and transferred to other parties.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2015