KARACHI, May 30: Despite directives of higher traffic police officials and the provincial ombudsman Sindh barring male commuters from travelling in women compartments in the public transport, the unlawful practice continues unchecked and unabated, causing great inconvenience and hardships to women.

The level of sexual harassment in public transport in the city has increased manifold. During rush hours a large number of women are forced to take public transport to reach their workplaces and educational institutions.

“The authorities should realize how women are subjected to humiliation and harassment in these buses,” said Tehmina, a University graduating student .

Every public transport vehicle has on board at least three male staff members - the driver, the conductor and a helper. For the convenience of the conductor who collects the fare from both women and men, there is a passage between female and male compartments.

“But this passage is misused by the male passengers who use it to occupy the seats in the women’s portion or to get off from the front door, meant exclusively for women,” Tehmina said.

The staff of the vehicle does not prevent male commuters from using the gate or from occupying the seats meant for women as they want to carry the maximum number of passengers.

This goes on during rush hours when all the major roads of the city have scores of uniformed officials of the traffic police.

Public transport owners and operators have further reduced the seats reserved for women in coaches, buses and minibuses by installing bars-gates immediately behind the driving seats, leaving only three seats for women.

Female commuters say the authorities should take a serious note of this genuine problem by blocking the passage permanently between men’s and women’s compartments.—PPI