ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Human Rights has expressed concerns over reports appearing in the press and social media showing staff of Darul Aman in the district of Dera Ghazi Khan manhandling a woman.

Describing the behaviour as inhumane, Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari directed the concerned officials to conduct an inquiry and submit a report.

She also held a phone conversation with the deputy commissioner of the district and the concerned officials of the Social Welfare Department and asked them to appoint women staff in the Darul Aman.

The little over two-minute video clip shows a woman lying on the road crying, surrounded by onlookers, as men who identified themselves as staff of Darul Aman use force to take her back to the facility. While onlookers urge the staff to wait for the police to arrive, the video shows the woman resisting to be taken back to Darul Aman.

Ms Mazari said the ministry would take measures to prevent such incidents from happening and safeguard human rights. She said the ministry had always taken care of the rights of the citizens with special focus on women and children.

“We will also form solid policies to address such issues on a priority basis. We will formally send a request to the provincial government to appoint women staff in the Darul Aman soon,” she said.

The Social Welfare Department informed the minister that two officials of Darul Aman had already been suspended for their negligence and an inquiry report would be submitted to the ministry soon.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2018