GUJRAT: A policeman’s photo in the guise of a lady constable wearing hijab (veil), standing beside a woman suspected of drug peddling, caused the senior officials immense embarrassment and cost SHO concerned his job here on Wednesday.

As per police sources, Daulat Nagar Station House officer (SHO) Sub-Inspector Aslam Hunjra had arrested three suspects, including a woman, in connection with two different cases -- one of illicit weapons and the other of drug peddling -- on Monday the last.

As per the standard operating procedure (SOPs), a police raiding team involved in the arrest of suspects in a criminal case gets photographed with them, and if there is any woman among those arrested, the presence of a lady constable is a must in such pictures.

However, the Daulata Nagar SHO became ‘innovative’ when he was told that no lady constable was available for the picture with the suspects, who included a woman, and reportedly directed a male official to “play the role” by wearing hijab to complete the formality.

Unfortunately, the policeman assigned the female role happened to be tall enough to get noticed in the picture issued to the local media and later went viral on social media, drawing taunts from netizens.

Following the social media uproar, the matter was taken up by senior police officers, including Gujrat district police officer (DPO), who suspended the SHO concerned from service and ordered an inquiry into the matter.

Gujrat Sadar circle deputy superintendent of police (DSP) has been assigned the inquiry with instructions to complete it within 24 hours and submit a report.

Giving background of the episode, a senior official of Gujrat police said that in fact most of the woman police staffers had been sent to Sargodha range for security duty during the by-polls held in Bhakkar and Khushab on Saturday the last, causing a shortage of female officials.

He said the old-school SHO might have taken the issue lightly, casting one of his male subordinates in the lady constable’s role, ignoring his height and ultimately causing embarrassment to the department.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2022