LAHORE: Following the Greater Iqbal Park incident, Lahore police have set up a first “women anti-harassment and violence cell” to ensure speedy registration of cases and investigation.

CCPO Additional IG Ghulam Mahmood Dogar inaugurated the cell at Defence Area (B) police station on Tuesday. Lahore Operations DIG retired Capt Sohail Chaudhry, CTO Muntazir Mehdi and other senior police officers were present.

The CCPO visited different sections of the cell and inspected facilities provided at different desks.

He told the female staff of the cell regarding importance of their new responsibilities and directed them to extend full cooperation to the affected women and behave with them politely.

“The cell houses multiple facilities including monitoring desk, victim feedback and assistance desk, victim support desk, investigation and prosecution desk,” Mr Dogar said.

Talking to the media, he said the cell would ensure prompt support and redress of grievances of the affected women through registration of cases and investigation of crimes against women.

“We are also establishing another [second] cell at Liberty roundabout,” he said.

He said a woman police officer has been deputed at the cell as victim support officer to provide timely response and legal and moral support to the aggrieved women from registration of FIRs to their medical reports, investigation process, hearing of cases in relevant courts and other related matters.

Dogar said six gender crime cells of Lahore police had been linked with the above-mentioned cell which would ensure monitoring of all such cases, surveillance of the habitual criminals and mapping of the hotspot areas in crimes of harassment and violence against women. Dedicated phonelines have also been provided to these cells to ensure timely response.

The CCPO advised women as well as students to download the ‘Women Safety App’ in their smart phones to get immediate police help in case of any harassment or violence against them.

He said monitoring of speedy investigation of cases would be ensured so that the suspects involved in gender crimes, especially the habitual offenders, could be convicted and sentenced by the courts.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2021