KARACHI/DADU: The Sindh High Court on Saturday directed senior officials of Shaheed Benazirabad (formerly Nawabshah) district to appear before the chief justice along with reports about the alleged torture of a house officer of the Peoples University of Medical and Health Science for Women.

SHC registrar Abdul Razzaq, through a letter issued to the police and local authorities, referred to the media reports regarding an incident of alleged torture of the house officer, Parveen Rind, at the hands of three officials of the university.

The SHC directed the Nawabshah DIG and SSP, as well as Shaheed Benazirabad deputy commissioner and the university’s registrar, to appear before Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh along with relevant reports on Feb 15.

Rallies held in several districts for arrest of suspects

DADU: Activists of various political parties and civil society organisations took out rallies in various towns of Dadu, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad and Naushahero Feroze districts on Saturday to express solidarity with Ms Rind and demand action against those who allegedly harassed and attempted to kill her.

They also demanded arrest of those who had allegedly blackmailed two medical students, Nimirta Chandani and Nosheen Kazmi, forcing them to commit suicide in their hostel rooms in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

A big rally was taken out in Johi town of Dadu district. The participants marched through various streets before converging on the local press club to hold a demonstration. Two other rallies were held in Mehar town and three rallies in Khairpur Nathan Shah of the district.

Participants of the rally held in Dadu also demanded removal of VCs of all medical universities of Nawabshah and Larkana for their failure to ensure protection to their female students.

Earlier, Ms Rind speaking at a press conference claimed that she had constantly been pressured to withdraw the FIR she had lodged against three officials of the Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women. She said the suspects were being supported and protected by the university administration and local political figures. She pointed out that police were no daring to lay hands on the suspects nominated in the harassment and attempted murder FIR.

She claimed that harassment of women students of medical universities in the interior of Sindh had become very common but only a few cases were highlighted in the media.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2022