KARACHI, Jan. 16: Despite instructions from the traffic authorities and a judgement by the provincial ombudsman barring male commuters from travelling in women’s compartments in public transport, the unlawful practice continues unchecked and unabated, causing great inconvenience and hardship to women.

During rush hours a large number of women take public transport to reach workplaces and educational institutions. But the issuance of directives by the relevant authorities has not prevented the operators of minibuses, coaches and buses from allowing male commuters in the already absurdly small portions reserved for women.

“This is a genuine problem overlooked by the authorities. The humiliation and harassment we are subjected to in these buses is appalling,” says Tehmina, a university student.

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

“But this passage is misused by the male passengers who use it to occupy the seats in the female portion or to get down from the front door meant exclusively for women. The staff do not prevent them as they want to carry the maximum number of passengers to earn the maximum amount.

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

In a judgement passed by the Sindh ombudsman in Feb last, the DIG traffic and highways police, the secretary Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Karachi, and the Sindh secretary transport had been directed to take all possible steps to ensure safety of women passengers.

The judgement had directed them to furnish an authenticated ladies compartment design and seating arrangement and supply it to every registered body-maker and motor vehicle examiner for strict compliance.

These instructions proved futile as the majority of public transports, despite having separate ladies compartments and seating arrangement, can be seen with the male commuters overloaded even in these compartments.—PPI