SAHIWAL: The PTI local leader who is on bail in the case of slapping a woman officer of the Pakistan Post has been appointed as the district coordinator of the Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA).

The appointment of PTI district information secretary Naveed Aslam by Kaneez Fatima Chadhar, the chairperson of the PWPA, has raised many questions. The local women rights groups wonder how the man himself involved in alleged violence against a woman would defend other women.

Mr Aslam was booked by Ghala Mandi police for slapping and insulting Senior Female Postmaster (SPM) Officer Sofia Qasim in the GPO on Sept 24. He was arrested by police from the site of the incident on the same day and he got bail from a court the next day. He has been on bail since then.

Malik Fazal Kareem, the complainant’s counsel, told Dawn the next hearing of the case before the court of Judicial Magistrate Samina Ijaz Cheema was scheduled for Nov 19.

District and Sessions Judge Munir Hussain Gill had dismissed Aslam’s petition against the case on Oct 21 while Federal Ombudsman’s adviser for Faisalabad region, Ahsan Javed Awan, had also quashed his complaint against the torture case.

It is important to note the appointment order, dated Oct 16, states in the job description that Mr Aslam’s responsibilities include reporting incidents of violence against women, participating in campaigns on women rights, briefing the media and assisting victims of violence against women by keeping chairperson and DG PWPA on board.

Ms Sofia, in reaction to the controversial posting of Mr Aslam, is considering approaching the authority for justice. She is committed to strive for justice. However, she is hopeful of getting justice from the court.

Her counsel Fazal Kareem accused Mr Aslam of exploiting his political position to influence the case, saying his new posting was another such attempt.

Kaneez Fatima Chadhar claimed she was not aware of the case against Mr Aslam. She said his appointment was decided earlier but it was notified in October and added that the posting could be reviewed.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2020